Mattarella: some preach opposition versus dialogue, open markets antidote to war

"No one in Europe, least of all Italy, imagines a season of protectionism," the President of the Republic continued. Consistent with this approach, we believe that situations and procedures concerning one trade sector - aimed at achieving fair and correct competition and with the intention of reaching mutually beneficial agreements - should not affect trade practices in other sectors. A smooth, responsible and in-depth dialogue between Beijing and the European Union, also in the political and strategic sphere, would be of value'.

"China is, for Italy, the leading economic partner in Asia," Mattarella said, "The constructive spirit that animates us calls for a balanced relationship that allows, with the removal of barriers that hinder access to the Chinese market for Italian products of excellence, to meet the expectations of Chinese consumers, who are increasingly demanding and attentive to quality. This applies to the approach in the financial sphere, open to new Chinese investments - in a logic of transparency, concreteness and mutual benefit - that stimulate employment and generate growth in value and skills'.

"China," recalled the Head of State, "is one of the key players in international life. I would like to express the expectation that it will use its great authority on the international stage to reaffirm its traditional position in support of the international community's norms of coexistence, working to put an end to Russia's brutal aggression against Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity, the first step towards a just peace based on the principles of the United Nations Charter".

"Yesterday (Friday, 8 November 2024, ed.) - said the Head of State, meeting in Beijing with the President of the National People's Congress, Zhao Leji - we registered full agreement and a convergence of evaluations with President Xi". "There is a growing desire for mutual cooperation. It is an ancient relationship that today finds a full and collaborative declination on the political level and on the international vision regarding the desire for peace, multilateralism, and openness in economic relations. That is why this visit is very important for me. There was a visit by Prime Minister Meloni a few months ago, and it is quite unusual to have such a close presence of the highest leaders of our country. This shows how important it is for us to increasingly develop relations with China'.

The talks between the President of the Italian Republic and Xi Jinping, which took place on Friday 8 November, came after Italy's decision to cancel the Silk Road agreement. In the world there are 'great changes taking place, deep and fast' to deal with which a climate of 'concord for a common examination' is needed. Unfortunately, today there is not this climate in the world and this is also why it is 'important that there are bilateral relations' and for Italy China is 'a key player'. Mattarella said this in Beijing shortly before his meeting with the Chinese president. "We have great consideration and confidence in the great cooperation with China," he added in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing speaking to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"Putting oneself in front of the others is a fruitful method," the Head of State continued, it is "an attitude that pushes to avoid temptations of anachronistic returns to a world of opposing blocs". "The Italians, founding members of the European Union, are supporters," Mattarella added, "of the importance of aggregative phenomena between countries that share interests or sensibilities. But not opposed to others. On the contrary, we must always preserve a constructive interlocution with others, however distant or different, without raising unjustified fences. This is the meaning of multilateralism, founded on rules that are certain, shared and binding for all'.

"Your visit," Xi Jinping said at the start of the meeting with the Head of State, "is an opportunity to infuse more dynamic energy into bilateral relations, for a new starting point. "China and Italy," he added, "are great civilisations" and "there are changes in the world that have not been seen in a century": for this reason, the Chinese president said, the two countries should work together to "resolve differences through dialogue" in order to "achieve harmonious coexistence". "After seven years, you are welcome to make another state visit to China" as an "old friend of the Chinese people and a good friend of mine", President Xi Jinping continued, meeting Mattarella. "In recent years, you and I have successfully exchanged visits and maintained close communication through phone calls and letters. Each exchange can deepen friendship and strengthen mutual trust."

China and Italy signed 10 agreements and memoranda in the presence of their respective heads of state, as part of their participation in the Italy-China Cultural Forum. These agreements range from film cooperation to competition cooperation.

The need to achieve a freer, barrier-free world market was one of the topics discussed today in Beijing in the lengthy talks between the two leaders. During the meeting, it was reported, much emphasis was placed on the need to increase dialogue between the parties and trade cooperation. More specifically, President Mattarella stressed that 'space must continue to remain a place of cooperation between nations and not a place of confrontation'. The chapter on relations with Africa and in the Mediterranean was also addressed.

A substantial opening that of Xi's if one thinks that Italy's exit from the 'Silk Road' agreement was feared, indeed accompanied by 'ominous omens', due to China's possible reaction to a sudden turnaround. There was a need to quickly mend fences with the Dragon and the institutions are doing so, first through the mission of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in July, and today at the highest levels with the State visit of the President of the Republic. This attention has been grasped by the Beijing authorities, who see the Italian president's arrival as a decisive opportunity to relaunch relations with the entire European Union.

"In the various articulations here there is a valuable work of diplomatic activity in this immense country. An intense and growing relationship, which is very important,' said the Head of State when visiting the Italian Cultural Institute in Beijing. The relationship that binds Italy and China goes back a long way, it is an ancient relationship that develops and continues to develop and it is very important for us that it is conducted in a positive, constructive and strongly collaborative manner'.

Brussels' latest crackdown on China's automotive was not a good calling card for the Italian authorities. Although Prime Minister Meloni's mission in July served precisely to reassure them that Italy would hold a soft and dialoguing position within the EU. On the Italian side, then, Chinese expectations for planetary acceptance of a new world order more in line with the growth of that magma of emerging countries known as the 'global south' were not underestimated.