Italy and China have announced a suite of new cooperation agreements aimed at revitalizing their bilateral relationship, despite Italy's recent departure from the Belt and Road Initiative. The agreements were signed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The package includes two memoranda of understanding, an action plan on food safety and anti-counterfeiting, two memoranda focusing on industry, environment, and sustainable development, and an executive program to enhance Chinese student mobility to Italy.
The agreements are part of the Italy-China Action Plan 2024-2027, which builds on the 2004 Global Strategic Partnership. This plan seeks to fortify and renew cooperation across a range of sectors including trade, investment, intellectual property protection, geographical indications, agriculture, food safety, research, training, environment, culture, tourism, and organized crime prevention. It emphasizes balanced and mutually beneficial trade relations, ensuring that companies from both nations operate under fair competition and free trade principles.
The industrial memorandum targets strategic sectors such as electric mobility and renewable energy. It outlines provisions for exchanging visits, sharing information on policies, regulations, and technical standards, organizing joint conferences, and providing mutual support for businesses. This agreement aims to foster collaboration and innovation in these critical areas.
In agriculture and food safety, one protocol, established with the Italian Ministry of Agriculture and the Chinese National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), addresses the regulatory aspects of Geographical Indications (GIs) for agricultural and food products. This includes exchanging information, publishing GI lists, and organizing relevant events and training. Another protocol focuses on combating counterfeiting within the GI sector, supported by information exchange and the organization of conferences and training activities. Additionally, an Action Plan between the Italian Ministry of Health and the Chinese Market Regulation Authority (SAMR) is set to enhance food chain safety through shared information and experiences.
The agreements also include an executive program between the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Chinese Ministry of Education, designed to expand academic mobility and training opportunities for students.
