ROME (TVBS News) — The Italian government has confirmed its decision to withdraw from China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with formal notification given to Chinese authorities, foreign media reported on Wednesday (Dec. 6).
Coming as a strategic move by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government, Italy is set to cease its participation in the BRI by the end of this year.
Italy's initial decision to join the initiative in 2019 made it the only major Western country to take part, drawing severe criticism from the U.S. and other nations at the time.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reportedly said at an event hosted by Adnkronos, an Italian news agency, later that day that the agreement "has not produced the expected results" and is no longer a "priority."
Despite pulling out of the BRI, Tajani emphasized that the Italian government still intends to strengthen its bilateral relations with China.