China's Xi Jinping snubbed again as Italian PM hints quitting BRI at India’s G20 Summit

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hinted at Italy's plan to withdraw from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) during a high-stakes meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the G20 Summit in New Delhi. 

In a historic meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, Meloni communicated Italy's intention to exit the BRI project, despite concerns over potential repercussions from Beijing, Italy expressed its desire to rekindle a longstanding strategic partnership agreement with China, initially established in 2004 to promote economic cooperation.

Il Presidente @GiorgiaMeloni ha avuto oggi, a margine dei lavori del Vertice #G20 di New Delhi, un incontro con il Primo Ministro della Repubblica Popolare Cinese, Li Qiang.
La nota: https://t.co/w78rR6Cyy9 pic.twitter.com/rnFJgJTaIk

— Palazzo_Chigi (@Palazzo_Chigi)

In a post-G20 summit press briefing, Meloni stated, "Leaving the Silk Road does not compromise relations, but the decision still has to be taken." She emphasised that Italy's decision was not influenced by external pressures, asserting that the move was a sovereign choice.

"There are European nations which in recent years haven't been part of the Belt and Road but have been able to forge more favourable relations (with China) than we have sometimes managed," Meloni added.

On Saturday, a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Meloni and world leaders representing India, the United States (US), the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, and the European Union Commission to establish the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEE EC). 

This transformative initiative will consist of two distinct corridors: the East Corridor, which will connect India to West Asia/Middle East, and the Northern Corridor, designed to link West Asia/Middle East to Europe. A fundamental element of this ambitious project is the development of a dependable and cost-efficient cross-border ship-to-rail transit network. Upon its successful completion, this network will enhance existing multi-modal transportation routes, streamlining the seamless transshipment of goods and services between Southeast Asia, India, and West Asia/Middle East Europe.

BRI: A source of contention

Italy's potential decision to withdraw from the BRI comes in the wake of growing skepticism within the country's political circles regarding the value and implications of the agreement signed by a previous administration in 2019. This accord had been a point of contention among Western allies due to concerns about the expanding influence of China.

During the meeting, Li Qiang reportedly made a last-ditch effort to persuade Italy to reconsider its decision, highlighting the significance of the BRI for global connectivity.

Italy's upcoming G7 presidency

As Italy prepares to assume the G7 presidency next year, reshaping its relationship with China is seen as an effort to placate its Western allies and foster cooperation on a broader scale. Meloni's discussions with Premier Li also revolved around deepening relations between the two nations.

Italy and China share a "Global Strategic Partnership" that is about to celebrate its 20th anniversary, which both leaders view as a cornerstone for advancing friendship and cooperation in various areas of common interest.

At the press conference, Meloni spoke about the inclusion of the Africa Union to the G20 and said it was central to the work of the G20. "We also consider this to be our success. Africa will also be one of the central issues that we will bring to the G7 (under the Italian presidency) next year," he said.

Meloni's bilateral with PM Modi

Italy PM Gioegia Meloni who arrived in India on Friday, engaged in a bilateral meeting with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. Remarkably, this visit marks Meloni's second trip to India, following her State visit in March 2023, during which both nations elevated their bilateral relations to the status of a Strategic Partnership.

PM tweeted that their "talks covered sectors such as trade, commerce, defence, emerging technologies and more. India and Italy will keep working together for global prosperity."

Ho avuto un’eccellente discussione con il PM @GiorgiaMeloni. La nostra conversazione ha coperto vari settori tra cui commercio, difesa, tecnologie emergenti e molto altro. L’India e l’Italia continueranno a lavorare insieme per la prosperità globale. pic.twitter.com/j9X6vWW7LG

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi)

During their meeting, the two leaders expressed their contentment regarding the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Italy and India. Additionally, they conducted a comprehensive review of the progress made across various sectors within the framework of the India-Italy Strategic Partnership. Both leaders were in agreement about strengthening collaboration in areas such as defense and the development of new and emerging technologies. They also acknowledged the imperative need for the G7 and G20 to work in harmony for the betterment of global affairs.