China opposes Italy's 'Belt and Road' withdrawal notice, says "Against tarnishing cooperation"

"One Belt One Road, the Most Welcomed Cooperation... Opposing Division Promotion"

On the 7th, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, in response to Italy's notification of withdrawal from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, the land and maritime Silk Road connecting China, Central Asia, and Europe), that it "opposes tarnishing BRI cooperation."

Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a briefing that "the Belt and Road Initiative is currently the most welcomed international public good and the largest international cooperation platform in the world." The BRI is a key project of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Spokesperson Wang emphasized, "The 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was successfully held in Beijing this October, attended by representatives from 151 countries and 41 international organizations, including Italy, resulting in 458 project achievements. This sent a clear signal of unity, cooperation, openness, and mutual benefit, demonstrating the enormous appeal and global influence of the Belt and Road Initiative."

He added, "China firmly opposes any acts that tarnish or undermine the joint construction of BRI cooperation and opposes camp confrontation and division incitement."

Earlier, major foreign media including the Italian daily Corriere della Sera reported on the 6th (local time) that the Italian government officially sent a letter to the Chinese government on the 3rd stating it would not renew the BRI agreement.

Italy was the only G7 country to participate in China's Belt and Road Initiative during the tenure of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte in 2019, and unless the agreement was withdrawn by the end of this year, the participation period was set to be automatically extended for five years.

However, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who took office last October, declared withdrawal, stating, "Italy's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative was a mistake."

The reason cited for Italy's decision to withdraw from the BRI is economic. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said, "Last year, Italy's exports to China amounted to 16.5 billion euros (approximately 23.5 trillion won), whereas France's were 23 billion euros (approximately 32.7 trillion won), and Germany's reached 107 billion euros (approximately 152.3 trillion won). The Silk Road did not bring the results we expected."

Wang Wenbin, Spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.