Italy joins China’s Belt and Road infrastructure project (BRI)

Summary:

Italy and China signed on 23 March 2019 a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) endorsing the European country's participation in China's Belt and Road initiative (BRI).

Further information:

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) - also known as the 'new Silk Road' - is a global project put forward by China to support trade with other parts of the world. It includes a wave of Chinese funding for major infrastructure projects around the world - mainly across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe - in an effort to speed Chinese good to markets further afield. Analysts highlight the impact of these projects on China's influence over countries in different parts of the world.

Italy became the first G7 country to endorse this plan, which has been warily seen by the United States some countries in the European Union. The agreement includes a €7 billion investment in the Italian ports of Genoa and Trieste. Several other deals in the energy, steel and gas pipeline sectors were also inked.

Official

Italian Government: News, 23/03/2019: Il Presidente Conte riceve il Presidente della Repubblica Popolare Cinese Xi Jinping [in Italian] http://www.governo.it/articolo/il-presidente-conte-riceve-il-presidente-della-repubblica-popolare-cinese-xi-jinping/11156

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News

Reuters, 06/03/2019: Italy mulls preliminary Belt and Road deal with China https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1QN0D4

The Guardian, 23/03/2019: Italy and China in plan for new Silk Road-style trade network https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/23/italy-china-new-silk-road-belt-and-road-g7

BBC News, 23/03/2019: Italy joins China's New Silk Road project https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47679760

Deutsche Welle, 23/03/2019: Italy, China sign new 'Silk Road' pact https://p.dw.com/p/3FYgd

Politico, 23/03/2019: Italy signs up to China’s massive infrastructure project https://www.politico.eu/article/italy-signs-up-to-chinas-massive-infrastructure-project/

The New York Times, 23/03/2019: Defying Allies, Italy Signs On to New Silk Road With China https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/23/world/europe/italy-china-xi-silk-road.html

The Local (Italy), 24/03/2019: Call for EU veto as Germany eyes Italy's China deal warily https://www.thelocal.it/20190324/call-for-eu-veto-as-germany-eyes-italys-china-deal-warily

Deutsche Welle, 24/03/2019: Chinese investments in Europe: German EU commissioner floats EU veto right https://p.dw.com/p/3FawO

EurActiv, 25/03/2019: Oettinger calls for EU veto on Italy-China deal https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-china/news/oettinger-calls-for-eu-veto-on-italy-china-deal/

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Commentary and Analysis

MERICS: Blog, 11/10/2018: Italy charts risky course with China-friendly policy https://www.merics.org/en/blog/italy-charts-risky-course-china-friendly-policy

ECFR: Commentary, 12/10/2018: Hand-outs and bail-outs: China's lobbyists in Italy https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_hand_outs_and_bail_outs_chinas_lobbyists_in_italy

Deutsche Welle, 09/03/2019: When in Rome, do as the Chinese do https://p.dw.com/p/3EcAh

University of London: SOAS Blog, 18/03/2019: Will China’s ‘Silk Road’ lead to Rome? Italy’s BRI drama https://www.soas.ac.uk/blogs/study/will-chinas-silk-road-lead-rome/

Deutsche Welle, 20/03/2019: The possible impact of China's Belt and Road agreement with Italy https://p.dw.com/p/3F4S2

ECFR: Commentary, 20/03/2019: Italy's Chinese dilemma https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_italys_chinese_dilemma

The Conversation, 22/03/2019: Italy joins China’s Belt and Road Initiative – here’s how it exposes cracks in Europe and the G7 https://theconversation.com/italy-joins-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-heres-how-it-exposes-cracks-in-europe-and-the-g7-114039

Euronews, 24/03/2019: China's Belt and Road plan: Why did Italy sign it and why is Brussels worried? https://www.euronews.com/2019/03/24/china-and-italy-sign-silk-road-project

Euro|topics, March 2019: Italy as China's gateway to Europe? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/217109/

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