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Rome and Beijing want to ‘deepen’ dialogue: Italian PM’s office

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, meeting for the first time Saturday, agreed to "consolidate and deepen" dialogue between Rome and Beijing, Meloni's office said.

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (C,L) is greeted upon her arrival at the airport on the eve of two-day G20 summit in New Delhi
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (C,L) is greeted upon her arrival at the airport on the eve of two-day G20 summit in New Delhi on September 8, 2023. She met Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the summit on Saturday. Photo: PIB / AFP

The meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi came amid rising speculation that Italy is preparing to withdraw from or rethink a controversial investment deal with China.

The European Union is part of a broad alliance which unveiled ambitious plans at the G20 to create a modern-day Spice Route linking Europe, the Middle East and India, which signatories hope will offer a counterbalance to lavish Chinese infrastructure spending.

Debt-ridden Italy in 2019 became the only one of the group of leading developed democracies to sign up to China’s trillion-dollar investment scheme.

The agreement automatically renews in March 2024 unless Italy opts out by the end of this year.

Critics say the Belt and Road plan is a Trojan horse to increase China’s influence and Meloni is under pressure to exit, but hopes to do so without inflaming tensions.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who travelled to Beijing earlier this month, said the Belt and Road initiative “has not produced the results we were hoping for”.

Meloni is tipped to travel to Beijing for a state visit in the next couple of months, and some analysts expect her to pull the plug on the deal then, while possibly boosting other existing Italy-China accords at the same time.

The meeting with Li Saturday “confirmed the common intention to consolidate and deepen the dialogue between Rome and Beijing on the main bilateral and international issues,” Meloni’s office said in a statement.

Next year marks the 20th anniversary of a global strategic partnership between the two countries which “will constitute the beacon for the advancement of friendship and collaboration,” it said.

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WAR IN UKRAINE

Italy says Russia media ban cannot erase effects of ‘illegal war’

Italy on Tuesday condemned Russia for blocking access to dozens of European media outlets, saying it would not erase the effects of a "violent, devastating and illegal war" in Ukraine.

Italy says Russia media ban cannot erase effects of 'illegal war'

The foreign ministry described the ban as “unjustified”, saying the Italian outlets affected – the broadcasters RAI and La7 and newspapers La Repubblica and La Stampa – had “always provided objective and impartial information on the Ukraine conflict”.

It said Russia’s attacks in Ukraine against civilians, cities and the energy network “will not be erased by the bans imposed on media and journalists in Italy and around the world who continue to follow devastating and inhumane activities with professionalism and independence”.

READ ALSO: Italy warns against ‘rash’ moves over arms to Ukraine

“The decision of the Russian Federation is one that does not remove or lessen the effects of a violent, devastating and illegal war,” it said.

Italy this year holds the rotating presidency of the G7 group of wealthy nations.

Russia said on Tuesday that it was blocking access to dozens of European media outlets, including AFP websites, in response to an EU broadcasting bans on several Russian outlets imposed last month.

The announcement comes after the European Union unveiled a ban on four Kremlin-controlled media outlets in May, accusing them of being “instrumental in bringing forward and supporting” Moscow’s Ukraine offensive.

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