Meloni's visit expected to be booster raising relationship to a new level: China Daily editorial

China's measured reaction to Italy not renewing relevant cooperation documents of the Belt and Road Initiative in December showed its tacit understanding that Italy's move largely stemmed from external pressure.

Italy's decision, after about one year's struggle, was clearly incompatible with the Italy-China Year of Culture and Tourism resumed the year before, and came at the height of Washington's exhortations that its allies stay away from China.

Both Rome and Beijing were careful to keep the door ajar to each other, and some positive exchanges between the two sides this year prove the door is reopening even wider than before.

Italian Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso visited China earlier in July, when an ancient Roman cultural relic exhibition in Beijing was becoming a national hit in China, laying the groundwork for the ongoing visit by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni from Friday to Tuesday.

During his visit, Urso said that China is an indispensable market for Italian companies and a key partner. The cooperation between China and Italy in the fields of green technology, electric vehicles, and public buses is becoming increasingly important, marking a new stage in the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The five-day length of Meloni's first visit to China after taking office for nearly two years and her packed itinerary, including meeting with not only the Chinese leadership but also the business community and cultural representatives, indicate that Meloni's visit should not be viewed as one to repair ties, but one that aims to upgrade the relationship.

No wonder Italian tire-maker Pirelli, energy group ENI, defense group Leonardo, wine producers and several Italian luxury fashion groups including Dolce&Gabbana are among the companies invited to attend an Italy-China business forum addressing cooperation in sectors such automotive and green technology that was held in Beijing on Sunday and Monday.

Italy is the fourth-largest trading partner of China within the European Union, and China is Italy's largest trading partner in Asia. Given the high complementarity between the structure and development stage of the two economies, that China's exports accounted for about two-thirds of the $71.76 billion bilateral trade last year, which dipped 7.2 percent from 2022 due to aforementioned reasons, means the Italy has great potential to boost its exports to the Chinese market. In particular, its high-tech and advanced products, food, and high-end consumer goods have great potential. And it has every reason to deepen cooperation with China in pharmaceuticals, biomedical engineering, green technology and electric mobility.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership. China has indicated that it is looking to work with Italy through this visit to cement the traditional friendship between the two countries, promote the Silk Road Spirit, strengthen mutual understanding and trust, deepen practical cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, pursue the steady and sustained growth of China-Italy and China-EU relations, and jointly contribute to a more peaceful, stable and prosperous world.

Reportedly, Italian President Sergio Mattarella will visit China in October to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the death of Marco Polo, a famous Italian visitor to China. China and Italy are both countries with an ancient civilization. A sound and stable China-Italy relationship is in the interest of both countries and peoples, and contributes to inter-civilization exchanges and mutual learning.

As well as working on ways to release the potential of the broad common interests between China and Italy that remain largely untapped in various sectors, the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts are likely to feature in Meloni's discussions with the Chinese leaders as Italy is not only an active player in the EU, but also the G20, NATO and G7, in which it serves as the chair country this year.