The agreements between China and Italy are the starting point for sustainable European policies

The new bilateral trade relations between Italy and China could be an opportunity for development and sustainability, not only for the two countries but also for Europe and the world. 

The interview to Corrado Clini, former minister for the Environment of Italy, on the latest issue of Longitude magazine, focus on the relations between the two countries and the importance of a common European policy for environment. 

Since 90s’ the Italy-China bilateral cooperation has developed through many programs and, among that, it’s important to remember the Sino-Italian environmental cooperation, with more than 200 projects recognized by China as a model to design and implement the sustainable growth of the country. 

The cooperation has been strengthened in 2010 during the visit of Chinese premier Wen Jiabao, and then with the participation of the Italian Premier Paolo Gentiloni at the 2017 “Belt and Road Initiative” Forum. The Memorandum of Understanding signed on March 23 by the Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte is the expected follow up of the Italian initiative to build the next steps of the bilateral cooperation with China in the framework of BRI, the strategic platform to improve connectivity between Asia, Europe and Africa. 

Why a cohesive European approach with China is essential? A common policy is needed to avoid the risk of undermine the effectiveness of the China-Europe joint efforts to address the global challenges and commitments in the framework of multilateral agreements (global sustainable development and Agenda 2030, climate change, energy security, fight against poverty). 

The “EU-China – A strategic outlook“, released by the European Commission last March 12, is the framework of the policies and actions to be implement in Europe and jointly with China. 

Low carbon energy production and services, global energy interconnection, sustainable transport and mobility, safe food production, artificial intelligence, digital economy. The aim is to create European champions able to be competitors and partners of the biggest Chinese and US companies, including changes to antitrust rules. 

The German minister of Economy, Peter Altmaier, sayd recently: «With the U.S. and China increasingly competing rather than cooperating, Europe is being relegated to the status of passive observer. If key technological competencies and, as a result, our position in the global economy were to be lost, this would have dramatic consequences for our way of life, for the capacity of the state to act and for its ability to shape almost all policy areas». 

This is a priority to keep the European sovereignty and to compete in the global economy, building a platform to connect and to drive the planet towards the sustainability.