China's Xi looks to strengthen Italian ties, evokes ancient trade routes

ROME: Italy and China want to revive the spirit of the ancient Silk Road by deepening their trade and investment ties, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday during a trip to Rome that has raised eyebrows in Washington.

Xi is set to sign a deal on Saturday that will see Italy become the first member of the Group of Seven industrialized nations to join China’s “Belt and Road” infrastructure project (BRI), which is inspired by the historic trade routes.

“We want to revitalize the ancient Silk Road in order to better share the fruits of humanity’s progress,” Xi said following talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

Speaking through a translator, Xi said the two countries should enhance cooperation in infrastructure, ports, logistics and maritime transport.

Italy’s populist government is eager to boost trade rapidly in an effort to help revitalize the sickly economy, which has slipped into its third recession in a decade.

But just when Rome is looking to upgrade its relations with Beijing, many European allies are growing more skeptical. EU leaders in Brussels on Friday warned that China should be treated as much as a competitor as a partner.

“The period of European naivety is over,” French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters.

Such caution was not on view in Rome, where Italy offered Xi an extravagant welcome, with a cavalry phalanx escorting his limousine into the courtyard of the presidential palace — the sort of entry normally reserved for royalty.

Xi will later attend a state dinner in his honor, where Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli will sing for the 170 guests.