Promoting the Silk Road Spirit: Strengthening China-Italy Relations in 2024

Introduction

On Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met in Beijing to discuss the future of China-Italy relations. They emphasized the importance of upholding and promoting the Silk Road spirit, which symbolizes peace, cooperation, openness, inclusiveness, mutual learning, and mutual benefit. This spirit has historically linked China and Italy through the ancient Silk Road, fostering significant exchanges between Eastern and Western civilizations.

The Significance of the Silk Road Spirit

Historical Context

• Ancient Connections: The Silk Road, an ancient network of trade routes, connected China and Italy, facilitating not just trade but also cultural and technological exchanges.
• Cultural Exchange: This historical connection has contributed significantly to the mutual learning and progress of both civilizations.

Core Values

• Peace and Cooperation: The Silk Road spirit encourages peaceful interactions and cooperative efforts between nations.
• Openness and Inclusiveness: It advocates for open borders and inclusive policies, fostering a global community.
• Mutual Learning and Benefit: The exchange of knowledge and resources benefits all participating nations.

Current Global Context

Global Changes

• Accelerating Changes: President Xi emphasized the rapid global changes unseen in a century, highlighting the need for unity and connectivity over closure and division.
• Global Challenges: Prime Minister Meloni acknowledged the profound evolution of the international situation and China’s crucial role in addressing these challenges.

Strengthening Bilateral Relations

Strategic Partnership

• Historical and Strategic Perspective: Both leaders agreed to view and develop bilateral relations from a historical dimension and strategic height, ensuring long-term stability and progress.
• Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: Italy aims to develop a closer, higher-level partnership with China, contributing to world peace and progress.

Economic and Industrial Cooperation

Complementary Advantages: Xi noted that China and Italy have complementary industrial strengths, presenting numerous opportunities for cooperation.

Trade and Investment: Both countries pledged to enhance traditional cooperation in trade, investment, and industrial manufacturing.

Innovation and Emerging Fields: They agreed to explore collaboration in emerging fields such as electric vehicles (EVs) and artificial intelligence (AI).

Promoting Openness and Cooperation

Global Industrial and Supply Chains

• Economic Globalization: Xi stressed that win-win development can only be achieved through the openness and cooperation of global industrial and supply chains.
• Peaceful Development: China follows a path of peaceful development, sharing its growth opportunities with all countries without pursuing hegemony.

China-EU Relations

Constructive Role: Xi expressed hope that Italy would support China’s development philosophy and advance dialogue and cooperation between China and the European Union (EU).

Deepening Cooperation: Meloni emphasized Italy’s desire to deepen cooperation with China in economy, trade, investment, and emerging technologies.

Joint Action Plan

Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2024-2027)

• Bilateral Cooperation: China and Italy issued a joint action plan to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership from 2024 to 2027.
• People-to-People Exchanges: Both sides aim to strengthen people-to-people exchanges, promoting the entry of more Italian products into the Chinese market.

Opposition to Protectionism

• Against De-coupling: Italy opposes “de-coupling” in global supply chains and protectionism, advocating for deeper, practical relations between the EU and China.

Conclusion

The meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni underscores the importance of the Silk Road spirit in fostering a robust and mutually beneficial relationship between China and Italy. By promoting peace, cooperation, openness, and mutual benefit, both nations aim to navigate the challenges of the modern world, ensuring long-term stability and prosperity. The joint action plan for 2024-2027 marks a significant step towards deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership, highlighting their commitment to global cooperation and development.

References

1. Xinhua Net. (2024). China, Italy should uphold and promote Silk Road spirit: Xi Jinping.
2. China Daily. (2024). Xi Jinping meets with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
3. The Diplomat. (2024). China and Italy Strengthen Bilateral Ties Amid Global Changes.

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