MILAN, Aug 25 (Class Editori) – The Belt and Road infrastructure project, also known as "New Silk Road", will be the "driving force" for the development of economic cooperation between Italy and China "for the next 50 years". Today, this has been stated by the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, during a joint press conference with the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Di Maio, in Rome.
"China and Italy are two eminent representatives of East and West, they have always respected each other and their development routes chosen by their people", as the Chinese Minister has stated.
"In addition, they represent two important global economies which have always keep an open cooperation of mutual benefit. China is the first commercial partner of Italy in Asia and Italy is the fourth commercial partner of China in the European Union. The two parties are always opened up to each other's investments. China has already invested more than $10 billion in Italy and, Italy about 6,000 projects in China", as Wang has underlined.
"China and Italy are two partners of deep friendship and they have always helped each other in times of difficulty. It has also occurred during the great earthquake in China (2008) and today, we are still supporting the country for the Coronavirus epidemic. Both, the two Governments and people have written together a moving story aiming at common development", as the Beijing’s Head of diplomacy has added.
"Looking ahead, we have to plan the bilateral relationships' development for the next 50 years. The building of Belt and Road will be the driving force in order to increase our cooperation" as Wang has ensured.
"A thousand years ago, the old Silk Road connected the two countries. Therefore, Italy and China are natural partner in order to strengthen the cooperation in the Belt and Road initiative. Last year, Italy has been the first western country to sign the memorandum of understanding with China on Belt and Road. Moreover, during this last year the two parties have achieved many collaboration agreements in the energy, cruise vessels building and harbours sectors. We have also reached a good start in third markets", as he has remembered.
"The two parties- as the Chinese Head of diplomacy has incited- must revive the spirit of the ancient Silk Road in order to involve more our citizens in projects to have more clear and concrete outcomes and give further energy addressed to the global economic development".
Lastly, Wang has strongly contested the creeping mood of a Cold War mindset which "will mean moving backwards in the history development", as he underlined by adding that Beijing will not "allow that other countries follow that mood, in order to support their private interests by damaging the global ones".
On the sidelines of the two Ministers' press conference, there has also been the announcement of a new agreement in terms of big business between the two countries. Snam, one of the largest companies of energy infrastructures worldwide and Pipechina (China Oil and Gas Piping Network Corporation), the newly established Chinese company of energy infrastructures, have signed a memorandum of understanding on strategic cooperation.
The agreement has been signed by Marco Alverà, the CEO of Snam and by Zhang Wei, the Chairman of PipeChina.
The MoU is establishing that Snam, which has been active in China for about two years, might provide technical support for PipeChina, in the fulfilment, management and maintenance of transport, regasification, and storage infrastructures of natural gas. In addition, Snam and PipeChina could undertake joint activities of research and development in energy transition in China, as well as trials in the hydrogen sector by focusing on Snam leadership, which is among the first infrastructure companies worldwide to enter hydrogen up to 10% in volume, in the natural gas transport network.
In the end, the two companies will consider potential joint investments in China, where Snam will be a privileged partner of PipeChina worldwide. The agreement with Snam is the first international industrial agreement signed by PipeChina.
(Source:Class Editori)
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