Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte is set to make Italy a member of the Belt and Road initiative once Xi Jinping lands in Rome this week. The Belt and Road Initiative is China’s global development, infrastructure and trade project looking to recreate the maritime and historic trade routes of the Silk Road. Conte has pledged that Italy will sign up, despite significant international pressure from the United States and EU urging against it. Italy plans on the initiative bolstering collaboration and investment into its northern ports, and developing trade partnerships and commercial ties.
