Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has pledged to "relaunch" relations with China during her first visit to Beijing since taking office.
Meloni met Chinese Premier Li Qiang and signed a three-year plan to enhance economic cooperation between the two nations, as per Reuters.
This visit comes after Italy withdrew from China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) last year, citing a lack of benefits from the massive investment scheme.
Despite this, Meloni emphasised her trip as a signal of Italy’s intention to start a new phase in bilateral relations.
During her meeting with Premier Li, Meloni signed agreements aimed at boosting cooperation on electric vehicles and renewable energy.
The two countries also plan to increase collaboration in shipbuilding, aerospace, new energy, and artificial intelligence, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises.
Italy was only the major Western nation to join BRI, a move crticized by US and other Western countries.
Since taking office in 2022, Meloni has steered Italy towards a more pro-Western and pro-NATO foreign policy, describing the previous government's decision to join the BRI as a "serious mistake."
Despite the political shifts, trade between Italy and China remains strong. Last year, bilateral trade reached 66.8 billion euros, making China Italy's largest non-EU trading partner after the United States.
