Meloni's visit expected to be booster raising relationship to a new level: China Daily editorial

China's measured reaction to Italy not renewing relevant cooperation documents of the Belt and Road Initiative in December showed its tacit understanding that Italy's move largely stemmed from external pressure. Italian Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso visited China earlier in July, when an ancient Roman cultural relic exhibition in Beijing was becoming a national hit in China, laying the groundwork for the ongoing visit by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni from Friday to Tuesday. Given the high complementarity between the structure and development stage of the two economies, that China's exports accounted for about two-thirds of the $71.76 billion bilateral trade last year, which dipped 7.2 percent from 2022 due to aforementioned reasons, means the Italy has great potential to boost its exports to the Chinese market. China has indicated that it is looking to work with Italy through this visit to cement the traditional friendship between the two countries, promote the Silk Road Spirit, strengthen mutual understanding and trust, deepen practical cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, pursue the steady and sustained growth of China-Italy and China-EU relations, and jointly contribute to a more peaceful, stable and prosperous world. As well as working on ways to release the potential of the broad common interests between China and Italy that remain largely untapped in various sectors, the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts are likely to feature in Meloni's discussions with the Chinese leaders as Italy is not only an active player in the EU, but also the G20, NATO and G7, in which it serves as the chair country this year.