Meloni, who came out of the Belt and Road, imposes a "rules-based order" on China

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered to help improve trade relations between China and the European Union, urging Chinese President Xi Jinping to "balance" trade relations between the bloc and the world's second largest economy, Bloomberg reported today, July 30.

"Italy can play an important role in relations with the EU and creating a balanced relationship," Meloni said on Monday during her first official visit to China since coming to power in 2022. "We need a rules—based order as a way to guarantee stability, peace and free trade," she said.

It is noted that the restoration of relations between EU and China may prove to be a difficult task for Meloni, since she has limited influence on the trade policy of the European Union, which is managed by the European Commission.

The Italian prime minister was outraged that she was left aside after the June elections to the European Parliament, when Meloni was excluded from closed negotiations on top positions in the EU.

Nevertheless, the right-wing Meloni party showed high results, which created a potential political opportunity for it at a time when the parties of the leaders of France and Germany lost in the pan-European elections.

Bloomberg recalls that Meloni's statement during a five-day trip to China about his intention to resume ties between Rome and Beijing sounds after it rejected Xi Jinping's flagship initiative "One Belt, One Road" last year. Italy was the only G7 country to join this investment pact, which is seen as a mechanism for expanding Beijing's global influence, which caused anger in the United States and Brussels.

Speaking on Monday, Xi Jinping expressed hope that Italy will be able to provide a fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese firms. Beijing is ready to develop cooperation with Italy in such areas as manufacturing and technology. China would also like to consider joint efforts with Italy in the field of artificial intelligence and electric vehicles, Xi added.

On Sunday, China and Italy signed a three-year plan that includes agreements on food security, industrial potential, trade, investment, education and environmental protection, reaffirming the importance of balanced and mutually beneficial trade relations. Meloni said that Rome will explore new ways of cooperation with China.