(23 Mar 2019) Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Saturday welcomed visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping at Rome's Villa Madama.
Xi is in Italy to sign a memorandum of understanding to make Italy the first major democracy to join China's "Belt and Road" initiative, a huge infrastructure project that aims to better connect China to the rest of the world.
Critics have described the initiative as a vehicle for Chinese political influence, and some have also questioned the transparency and the potential for corruption with state-directed investment.
European governments declined to sign a joint declaration on the "Belt and Road", arguing it lacked standards on financing and transparency.
US officials are also skeptical of the burgeoning new ties, which they say favour China's interests.

Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ] ​​
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]


You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]

свернуть