Leaders Meet at G20 Summit in Johannesburg
Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, in November 2025. The high-level meeting focused on strengthening strategic alignment and deepening bilateral cooperation between the two nations. This encounter marked a continued effort by both leaders to foster dialogue across various areas of mutual interest.
Economic Cooperation and Investment Environment
During their discussions, Premier Li Qiang welcomed increased participation from Italian companies in the Chinese market. He also expressed China's expectation for Italy to provide a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises investing and operating in Italy. Prime Minister Meloni, in turn, underscored the importance of ensuring a level playing field for companies operating in international markets and guaranteeing the security of global supply chains, particularly concerning components essential for industrial production. Both leaders agreed on the significance of promoting balanced growth in trade and mutual investments.
Strengthening Dialogue and Strategic Partnership
The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to maintaining constructive dialogue across all areas of common interest. Discussions included strengthening cooperation in scientific and cultural fields, alongside economic matters. Premier Li stated China's readiness to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Italy within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the G20, aiming to build broader consensus on global issues. China also expressed willingness to enhance connectivity and synergy with Italy in markets and industries to promote optimized and balanced development of bilateral trade.
Italy's Post-BRI Stance and Bilateral Trade
A significant backdrop to these discussions is Italy's decision to exit China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2023. Italy had been the only G7 nation to join the global infrastructure development project in 2019. Despite the withdrawal from BRI, bilateral trade between China and Italy has continued to grow, with the volume climbing to over $80 billion. This demonstrates that both nations are keen to pursue a strong economic relationship beyond the BRI framework, focusing on other avenues for collaboration and mutual benefit.
5 Comments
Bella Ciao
Economic cooperation is always a win-win for both nations. A pragmatic approach.
Fuerza
Italy shouldn't be so naive with China's dominance. This engagement is risky.
Manolo Noriega
It's positive they're discussing balanced growth and cooperation outside of BRI, but ensuring a truly level playing field for Italian companies in China remains a significant challenge. The rhetoric needs to match reality on the ground.
Fuerza
Smart move by Italy to keep trade strong with China. Isolation benefits no one.
Ongania
Dialogue is crucial for global stability, especially with major powers. However, Italy needs to balance economic opportunities with its G7 alliances and democratic values when engaging Beijing.