Washington - US President Joe Biden and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni convened a meeting at the White House to strengthen economic ties and address challenges posed by China. The leaders engaged in discussions regarding Italy's participation in China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with Washington affirming its respect for Italy's autonomy in shaping its policy decisions regarding China.

Despite differences in positions on issues like abortion and LGBTQ rights, both Biden and Meloni underscored the strong partnership between their nations and focused on areas of cooperation during the meeting.

Reaffirming their solid friendship, Biden and Meloni pledged ongoing support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia and addressed broader concerns related to China's actions, particularly in the Pacific region.

An important decision ahead for Italy is whether to renew its membership in China's BRI infrastructure plan, which the US has actively sought to counter. While Italy values its relationship with China, it is exploring options to maintain good relations without renewing the BRI deal when it expires in March 2024.

The leaders emphasized the significance of their economic connection and mutual trade, seeking to bolster trade between Italy and the United States. Meloni stressed the importance of "fair" trade, raising concerns about trade practices that undermine workers' rights and safety, implicitly referencing China.

In a collective effort, the G7 countries, including Italy and the US, launched the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment as an alternative to China's BRI. While aiming to reduce dependencies on other countries, the G7 countries stressed the need for cooperation without complete isolation.

Furthermore, Italy and the US discussed cooperation on supporting African development and stability, particularly in managing migration from North Africa to Italy, an issue that has been challenging for Italy and prompted international discussions on how to address the situation.