Italian Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio, announced that the Italian Minister of Defense, Lorenzo Guerini, along with a delegation of military and defense industry representatives, will be visiting China for five days. The visit comes several months after Italy decided to drop out of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a decision that has strained diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Italian delegation will be meeting with Chinese officials and industry leaders to discuss potential collaborations in the defense sector. The visit is seen as an opportunity to strengthen ties between Italy and China in the defense industry, despite the recent tensions between the two countries.
Italy’s decision to pull out of the Belt and Road Initiative was met with disappointment from China, as Italy was the first G7 country to join the initiative in 2019. The move was seen as a blow to China’s efforts to expand its influence in Europe through its infrastructure projects.
The visit by the Italian defense minister and delegation is seen as a step towards repairing the strained relations between Italy and China. Both countries have expressed a desire to continue working together in various sectors, including defense, despite the recent setbacks.
The Italian delegation’s visit to China is expected to focus on exploring new opportunities for collaboration in the defense sector, as well as discussing ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries. The visit is also seen as an opportunity to foster dialogue and understanding between Italy and China, as they seek to move past their recent disagreements and build a stronger partnership in the future.
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