Italy's Prime Minister Informed China of Intent to Withdraw from the Belt and Road Initiative

Italian media reported today, Sunday, that "Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made it clear Italy's intention to withdraw from the Belt and Road Initiative during a meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang at the G20 summit." The newspaper Corriere della Sera stated that "the Prime Minister informed her counterpart of her plan to withdraw from the project," adding that Li made a final attempt to persuade the Italians to reconsider. Italy, which is seeking to minimize any backlash from Beijing regarding the decision, plans instead to revitalize a strategic partnership agreement with China aimed at enhancing economic cooperation that was first signed in 2004. Italy is the only G7 country that signed onto the Belt and Road Initiative, a plan for global trade and infrastructure.