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Meloni Meets Xi: Relaunching Italy-China Relations

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Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described China as an “important interlocutor” for managing global tensions during her meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Xi acknowledged the “long-established friendly” relations and emphasized “tolerance, mutual trust, and mutual respect” between the two nations.

On her first visit to China since taking office, Meloni and Chinese Premier Li Qiang signed a three-year plan aimed at enhancing economic cooperation. This five-day trip follows Meloni’s decision last year to withdraw Italy from President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a move motivated by the disappointing returns on the significant investment scheme intended to boost bilateral trade.

Meloni framed her visit as an effort to “relaunch” the Italy-China relationship. After discussions with Xi at Beijing’s Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, she noted the rising global insecurity and the necessity for China to play a crucial role in addressing these challenges. Meloni highlighted the need for the two countries to collaborate for stability and peace.

Italy’s prime minister’s office reported that their talks covered various global governance issues, including the Ukraine conflict, potential escalations in the Middle East, and increasing tensions in the Indo-Pacific. Xi called for both nations to “uphold the spirit of the Silk Road” to foster a new era in East-West relations, stating that both sides have significant opportunities for mutual growth and welcoming Italian investments in China while expressing a willingness to import more high-quality Italian goods.

Italy was the only major Western nation to sign onto the BRI, which was met with strong criticism from the US and other Western countries. Since assuming office in 2022, Meloni has adopted a more pro-Western and pro-NATO stance than her predecessors, previously criticizing the prior government’s decision to join the BRI as a “serious mistake.” Alicia Garcia-Herrero, chief economist for the Asia Pacific at Natixis, remarked that Meloni’s absence from the BRI allows her to engage with China on a more equal footing, as a partner rather than a subordinate.

Under Meloni’s leadership, Italy has blocked a Chinese state-owned firm from acquiring the tire manufacturer Pirelli and supported the European Commission’s recent move to impose tariffs of up to 37.6% on electric vehicles imported from China. Trade between Italy and China reached 66.8 billion euros (£56.3 billion) last year, making China Italy’s largest non-EU trading partner after the US.

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Vladimir Putin feted at Xi Jinping’s global Belt and Road summit

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At a global summit in Beijing, Russian leader Vladimir Putin received special treatment, alongside China’s President Xi Jinping, as the two countries solidified their alliance amid global geopolitical tensions. The event commemorated a decade of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Despite diplomatic scrutiny and an international arrest warrant issued against him, Putin’s close relationship with Xi was evident throughout the summit. The two leaders were prominent during the opening ceremony and engaged in an extended bilateral meeting.

The summit highlighted China and Russia’s mutual opposition to the Western world order, advocating for a multipolar global system. China, positioning the BRI as a means to establish a more equitable world order, emphasized principles of cooperation, inclusivity, and sustainable development.

While the BRI has stimulated development, it has also faced criticism for fostering debt dependency and environmental degradation. The summit saw participation from various countries, particularly from Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and representatives from the Afghan Taliban government.

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Macron counting on Xi to ‘bring Russia to senses’

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Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, has pleaded with Xi Jinping, the leader of China, to assist in ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.

He told Mr. Xi in Beijing, “I know I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses, and bring everyone back to the negotiating table.” China and France, according to Mr. Xi, have the “capacity and obligation” to preserve world peace.

Moscow, meanwhile, declared that the onslaught will carry on since there were currently “no prospects for a peaceful conclusion.”

After years of deteriorating relations between the West and China, which has hesitated to denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Mr. Macron is in China on a state visit that is being closely watched.

Also, Mr. Macron wants to improve business connections. He is joined by a sizable business group as well as Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, who he asked to participate in meetings with the Chinese leadership.

In the late afternoon on Thursday, Mr. Macron was treated to a lavish military display in Beijing before meeting Mr. Xi for private talks that were described as “frank” and “warm” by Chinese and French officials.

Following the meeting, Mr. Xi addressed the media and urged “reasonable restraint” from the international community, stating that China “advocates for peace talks and wants a political settlement.”

He also reaffirmed the prohibition against using nuclear weapons in the conflict. Earlier this week, Russia declared its intention to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, close to the ally’s western border with Nato countries.

Mr Macron said “we can’t have a safe and stable Europe” as long as Ukraine remained occupied, and that it was “unacceptable” that a member of the UN Security Council had violated the organisation’s charter.

The French president addressed Mr. Xi directly throughout the press conference, striking a friendly tone throughout his statement. It contrasted with Mr. Xi’s lethargic press conference delivery.

Later, in a different press conference, Ms. von der Leyen emphasised that it would be against international law and “seriously undermine” the relationship between the EU and China if Beijing sent weapons to Russia.

She said that she wanted Beijing to play a role that “promotes a just peace” and that she “firmly” supported Volodymyr Zelensky, the leader of Ukraine, in his peace proposal, which asks for the complete departure of Russian soldiers.

China has released its own peace plan which Western nations have been generally dismissive of, saying it sides too much with Russia. But Mr Zelensky has expressed interest in it and called for direct talks with Mr Xi – who has yet to publicly respond.

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In talk with Xi; US President Biden raises aggressive policies of China

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U.S. president Joe Biden talked with his Chinese partner Xi Jinping on Wednesday evening (Washington time), the principal call between the two chiefs since Mr. Biden accepted office on January 20.

Mr. Biden featured worries about Beijing’s monetary practices, its basic liberties record and “confident activities in the district” while asserting his need of protecting a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” the White House said in a readout of the call.

“President Biden confirmed his needs of ensuring the American individuals’ security, thriving, wellbeing, and lifestyle, and saving a free and open Indo-Pacific. President Biden underscored his key worries about Beijing’s coercive and out of line financial practices, crackdown in Hong Kong, denials of basic freedoms in Xinjiang, and progressively decisive activities in the area, including toward Taiwan,” the White House said.

In any case, the Biden organization desires to expand on the Trump organization’s fortifying of the Quad (the Indo-Pacific gathering of nations containing India, the U.S., Australia and Japan), U.S. Public Security Adviser Jake Sullivan as of late said.

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