DW (German)

China's Xi and Italy's Conte sign New Silk Road agreement

March 23, 2019

1 min read

What’s up with Italy? China’s president Xi Jinping traveled to Rome, where he signed an agreement to work with Italy on Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. Xi met with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to put their names to the plan, also known as the New Silk Road. It’s meant to improve transport and trade links between China and dozens of other countries. Italy will become the largest European economy to join so far – against objections from the US and other European governments. They’re concerned that the project lacks transparency and favors Chinese firms.