ROME: Italy and China want to revive the spirit of the ancient Silk Road by deepening their trade and investment ties, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday during a trip to Rome that has raised eyebrows in Washington.
Xi is set to sign a deal on Saturday that will see Italy become the first member of the Group of Seven industrialized nations to join China’s “Belt and Road” infrastructure project (BRI), which is inspired by the historic trade routes.
“We want to revitalize the ancient Silk Road in order to better share the fruits of humanity’s progress,” Xi said following talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
Speaking through a translator, Xi said the two countries should enhance cooperation in infrastructure, ports, logistics and maritime transport.
Italy’s populist government is eager to boost trade rapidly in an effort to help revitalize the sickly economy, which has slipped into its third recession in a decade.
But just when Rome is looking to upgrade its relations with Beijing, many European allies are growing more skeptical. EU leaders in Brussels on Friday warned that China should be treated as much as a competitor as a partner.
