The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has received more and more support from the international community and meets the needs of world development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang told a regular briefing on Monday, adding China welcomes Italy's active participation in the BRI.
While answering a question about Italy potentially joining the BRI, Lu said expanding cooperation is in the interests of the two sides.
Cooperation between China and Italy in recent years has achieved fruitful results in various fields and provided tangible contributions to both sides' development, Lu said.
Italy has planned to sign a memorandum of understanding to become part of the BRI, the first G7 country to formally endorse it, the Financial Times (FT) reported last Tuesday.
"The negotiation is not over yet, but it is possible that it will be concluded in time for Xi's visit," reported the FT, quoting Michele Geraci, undersecretary in the Italian economic development ministry.
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has received more and more support from the international community and meets the needs of world development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang told a regular briefing on Monday, adding China welcomes Italy's active participation in the BRI.
While answering a question about Italy potentially joining the BRI, Lu said expanding cooperation is in the interests of the two sides.
Cooperation between China and Italy in recent years has achieved fruitful results in various fields and provided tangible contributions to both sides' development, Lu said.
Italy has planned to sign a memorandum of understanding to become part of the BRI, the first G7 country to formally endorse it, the Financial Times (FT) reported last Tuesday.
"The negotiation is not over yet, but it is possible that it will be concluded in time for Xi's visit," reported the FT, quoting Michele Geraci, undersecretary in the Italian economic development ministry.
Earlier in August 2018, the Italian government set up a “China Task Force,” a team aiming to boost trade and investment relations with China. Luigi Di Maio, Italy's deputy prime minister, told CGTN that the objective of this team is to realize the BRI.
In December 2017, China's foreign ministry called on Italy to add fresh vitality to its role as a crucial hub on the new Silk Road, and called for more efforts to integrate "Made in China 2025" with Italy's "Industry 4.0," and to connect China's "Internet plus" strategy with Italy's technological innovation plans.
