Italy withdrew from China’s Silk Road project

According to the international group Tasnim news agency, SR F wrote in an article: Italy has officially informed China that it will withdraw from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Reuters wrote in a report that the concerns here It has been ignored that this action may strain the relations between the two countries and damage the Italian economy. China was the first and only major Western country to join the scheme, fearing that it might take control of sensitive technologies and critical infrastructure.

However, When Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni came to power last year, she announced that she wanted to withdraw from the agreement, saying that it had not achieved anything significant for the country.

This plan, which was presented by Xi Jinping, the President of China in the fall of 2013 during his visits to Kazakhstan and Indonesia respectively, consists of two parts of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the construction of the Maritime Silk Road in the 20th century. 1.

Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy described joining this project as a serious mistake by the previous government.

Thus, right at the time of the EU-China talks in Beijing, Rome initially unofficially confirmed these media reports and now officially announced its withdrawal from the project.

Europe’s third-largest economic power in 2018 under former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who led a government of left- and right-wing populists, has significantly backed the Xi Jing prestige project. Ping, attached.

As ​​part of this strategic project, China is building and participating in infrastructure projects around the world such as ports, airports, roads and other projects. The countries involved financially in this project have close ties with China. The initiative was controversial in the West from the start – and has been questioned even more since Beijing’s sweeping claim to power has become more and more obvious.

Maloney described his predecessor joining the project as a “serious mistake”. His government is of the opinion that this agreement did not work economically for Italy and the expected billion investments did not materialize.

Italy’s membership in this project in At first it was limited to five years. But Conte had agreed to a structure under which Italy would have to formally terminate the contract to leave, otherwise the partnership would be automatically extended from March 2024. So Meloney was under pressure. At the same time, he hoped not to anger Beijing as much as possible and not to jeopardize established economic relations. Accordingly, he proceeded with caution.

But finally, about three days ago, according to Italian media reports citing very reliable sources, Rome officially announced the end of this work. sent the project to Beijing – and indirectly confirmed this on Wednesday. Meloni has long said the trip to Beijing would provide an opportunity to discuss further cooperation.

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