Italy's Premier Guiseppe Conte has pledged to become the first G7 nation to join China's Belt and Road Initiative.
The announcement has ruffled a few feathers within Conte's government and with some of Rome's western allies.
Ro Aram reports.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is due in Rome on Thursday for a trip that will likely see Italy officially join Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative.
Several MOUs, including opening Italian ports to Chinese investment, are also expected to signed, all of which both countries say will have economic benefits.
"If China and Italy can reach an agreement on the BRI cooperation, it will be beneficial to economic development of the respective countries and our economic cooperation…"
However, Italy's plan to join the initiative has sparked concerns within Conte's own government.
Some fear the joint-infrastructure projects could undermine national security.
The U.S. and Italy's European neighbors have also expressed concern over what they see as China's increasing attempts to dominate global markets through unfair trade practices.
The EU also issued a statement last week, describing China as an economic and systemic rival.
Conte, however, dismissed those concerns.
"…. It does not remotely put into doubt our euro-Atlantic alliance. Its content, negotiated for many months with Beijing involving all the administrations concerned, presents no risk for our national interests and is fully in line with the strategy of the European Union and in fact it promotes it as no other member state has done so far in its dealings with Beijing."
Ro Aram, Arirang News.
