Italy's foreign minister on Saturday said trade between Italy and China had not improved as expected since Rome joined Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative four years ago.
Under the previous government, in 2019 Italy became the first major Western country to join China's infrastructure initiative, despite objections from the United States.
“The Silk Road has not yielded the expected results,” Antonio Tajani told the European Parliament's Ambrosetti economic forum shortly before leaving for China.
"We will have to evaluate, Congress will have to decide whether to continue to participate."
Rome seems very unlikely to renew the agreement when it expires in March 2024 and will not officially withdraw from the agreement until December, otherwise, it will be extended for another 5 years.
Tajani said this afternoon he will depart for a three-day diplomatic mission to Beijing. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she plans to visit China during one of her upcoming overseas trips.
