Italian PM Announces Cooperation Plan in China

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Beijing and announced a three-year action plan to strengthen economic cooperation with China, following Italy's exit from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) last year. Meloni's visit aimed to revive bilateral relations and included the signing of agreements in fields such as trade, investment, education, and environmental protection. Specific sectors highlighted for collaboration include electric mobility, renewable energy, shipbuilding, and artificial intelligence. Despite previous criticism of the BRI, Meloni emphasized the importance of Chinese investment in boosting Italy's economic growth. Additionally, talks also focused on the ongoing trade tensions between China and the EU, particularly concerning electric vehicles, and Meloni planned to discuss the Ukraine conflict with Chinese leaders.