With Xi Jinping there is «full harmony and convergence of assessments regarding the desire for peace, multilateralism, and openness in economic relations». Now Beijing realizes that it is a global power and works to exert its influence on Vladimir Putin by helping to put an end to Russian aggression in Ukraine.
Sergio Mattarella closes the circle of his talks by asking China to assume responsibility precisely in the name of that multilateralism – Beijing rejects it as the need for a new world order – which dominated the political meetings of his second state visit to the country of the dragon. A successful mission despite the very delicate issues addressed and much appreciated by the Chinese authorities who ensured that a new “historic” phase of bilateral relations opens today. Flattering judgments that allowed the President of the Republic a frankness of language that others would not have been granted and which Mattarella took full advantage of.
In quick succession the head of state asked Beijing to increase Chinese investments in Italy, to promote with greater determination the desire for peace in Ukraine and the Middle East, to understand that “friendship” was the key word of these days in Beijing – between two peoples must also allow some criticism, for example on human rights, without this being considered “interference”. And also that the time has come for China to remove the “barriers that hinder access to the Chinese market for excellent Italian products”. The latter is a burning issue for the government which finds itself in a situation of serious commercial imbalance. Suffice it to say that in 2022 trade amounted to 73.9 billion euros but Italian exports to China only reached 16.4 billion while imports were more than triple (57.5 billion euros). «There is a need – Mattarella said to Prime Minister Li Qiang – for a rebalancing in the development of import-export commercial relationships. Italian investments in China have grown significantly. We hope that the Chinese ones can also grow quickly.” Then in the afternoon the head of state moves to Beijing University and addresses the most political part of his agenda in front of very attentive students. In the room, for the inauguration of the Agnelli chair dedicated to Italian culture, a particular parterre: next to each other Romano Prodi, first holder of the chair, Pier Ferdinando Casini new honorary president of the China-Italy philanthropic forum and the president of Exxor John Elkann.
«Italy and China are united by a solid and mature relationship, capable of overcoming the ripples», he began, almost apologizing for the frankness of his words. “No one in Europe wants a new season of protectionism,” he assured in the midst of complex tariff negotiations underway between China and the European Union. To then ask that the battle over electric cars not spill over to other sectors: “it must not have repercussions on the commercial practices of other sectors”. So foreign policy and here too a premise: “China is one of the fundamental protagonists of international life”. For this reason it must “make use of its great authority by working to put an end to the brutal Russian aggression in Ukraine”. And Beijing should show the same authority by adding “its voice to stop the spiral of violence in the Middle East”. a strong call for China to get involved but always playing with the rules of international law. And if among “friends” criticism can only be constructive, the president also politely speaks of human rights: «there are complex issues that concern all of us. Among these, the protection and promotion of the dignity of every person is not secondary. Reaffirming principles that represent a safeguard of civilization does not express interference towards anyone. It is, rather, an invitation – of universal value – for behaviors consistent with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which commits the entire international community.” In short, China will truly enter the game and begin to give shape to that new world order that we talk about so much. But with the clear rules of multilateralism and not with the absence of rules of those who attack the weakest like Russia.
(photo by Francesco Ammendola – Office for Press and Communication of the Presidency of the Republic)