Italian PM Meloni aims to mend relations during visit to China

BEIJING (AP) — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is making an official visit to China this week in a bid to reset ties, as fears of a trade war with the European Union are intertwined with continued interest in attracting Chinese investment in the auto industry and other sectors.

Meloni met Chinese Premier Li Qiang in the Chinese capital on Sunday, ahead of a forum with Italian and Chinese business leaders.

Her five-day visit comes months after Italy withdrew from China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a signature policy of Chinese leader Xi Jinping to build energy and transportation infrastructure around the world to boost global trade while strengthening China’s ties with other countries.

Italy’s decision to join in 2019 appeared to be a political coup for China, giving it an entry into Western Europe and a symbolic boost in a then-raging trade war with the United States. But Italy says the promised economic benefits have not materialized and that membership has caused friction with other Western European governments and the United States.

Still, Italy remains keen to pursue an otherwise strong economic relationship with China. Stellantis, a major automaker that also includes Italy’s Fiat, announced in May that it had formed a joint venture with Leapmotor, a Chinese electric car startup, to sell EVs in Europe.

Electric vehicles have become a symbol of growing trade tensions between China and the EU, with the European Union imposing preliminary tariffs of up to 37.6% on Chinese-made electric vehicles in early July. The two sides are holding talks to try to resolve the issue ahead of an early November deadline.

China has now launched an anti-dumping investigation into European pork exports, just days after the EU announced it would impose import duties on Chinese electric cars.

Meloni, who arrived in Beijing on Saturday, has previously held talks with Li. They met in New Delhi last September during the annual G20 summit, which brings together leaders from 20 major countries.