Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said on Monday that his country’s decision to join China’s flagship infrastructure scheme was “wicked.”
Crosetto’s Comments
In an interview with the Corriere della Sera newspaper published Sunday, Crosetto said that China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) — which Italy signed up to be part of under its previous government — had done little to help the European country’s exports.
Crosetto said that “the choice to join the Silk Road was an improvised and wicked act, made by the government of Giuseppe Conte, which led to a double negative result.”
“We have exported a load of oranges to China, they have tripled their exports to Italy in three years. The most ridiculous thing then was that Paris, without signing any treaties, in those days sold planes to Beijing for tens of billions,” he continued.
Italy's BRI dilemma worsens as 'pressure from US, EU mounts'
— Zhang Heqing (@zhang_heqing) August 1, 2023
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“The question now,” Crosetto added, “is how Italy can withdraw from the BRI without damaging relations with Beijing.” He went on to describe the Asian superpower as “a competitor, but also a partner.”
The minister’s comments come as the Italian government assesses whether to continue being part of the mega project, after its membership of the project expires next year.
Earlier this year, PM Giorgia Meloni said that it was possible to have “good relations” with China outside the BRI.
Chinese Response
Commenting on the matter, an unnamed spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday that the BRI “provides a new platform for practical cooperation” between the two countries, and has “achieved numerous tangible outcomes in economy, trade and business cooperation.”
Citing Italian data, the statement went on to say that in the first five months of 2023, Italian export to China had observed a 58% year-on-year surge. It thus concluded that “tapping the potential” of the BRI “serves the interests of both sides.”