ROME -- The Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in order to launch a three-year economic plan between the two countries. 

  During Meloni’s first trip to China since taking office in 2022, she met with President Xi Jinping as well as Prime Minister Li Qiang to “define the next three years of bilateral cooperation.” 

  In an hour and a half conversation with the Chinese President in Beijing, the pair discussed Ukraine, Gaza, artificial intelligence, climate change, and UN security.  “China is a very significant economic, commercial, and cultural partner for us,” Meloni said. 

  “As you correctly recalled,” Meloni said addressing Xi Jinping, “this visit falls on two anniversaries. The 20 years of our strategic partnership that clearly defines the level of our cooperation, and perhaps more importantly, the 700 years since Marco Polo’s death.” 

  “Because it is an anniversary that defines the antiquity and the depth of our relationships, the relationship between two civilisations that are descendants of an ancient culture.” 

  “This is very important, especially in a period such as this one in which we’re living. Clearly the best way to celebrate these two anniversaries is to maintain that channel that was started exactly 700 years ago by Marco Polo, open to foster economic, commercial, cultural and scientific, but also dialogue at a multilateral level.”

  “We are launching a three-year action plan that we have signed with the government and which defines the next three years of our bilateral cooperation,” Meloni added, noting her meeting with the Chinese Prime Minister on Sunday, “the objective is clearly to enhance the work that we have already done, but also to explore new forms of cooperation while working towards balancing trade relations.” 

  Xi Jinping, echoed these sentiments, underlining his aims to “allow the international community to find things in common while resolving differences and expanding on common ground, rejuvenating the ancient Silk Road as a bridge of communication between the East and the West.”

  China “adheres to the path of peaceful development, never pursuing hegemony and is willing to share development opportunities with other countries,” he added. 

lw