ROME: Italy signed on Saturday a “non-binding” protocol with China to take part in Beijing’s new “Silk Road” of transport and trade links stretching from Asia to Europe.

In doing so, Italy became the first G7 country to sign up for the massive project which has sparked unease in the US and the European Union as China aspires to a greater world role.

Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte attended a ceremony held for the signing of 29 memorandums of understanding which Italian media said were worth $5.6 billion to $8bn.

Also signing the accords were the chairman of China’s chairman of the National Development Commission He Lifeng and Italian deputy prime minister and Minister of Economic Development Luigi Di Maio.

Italian financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore said the value of the Chinese investments could rise substantially but would for now be limited to the strategic ports of Genoa and Trieste.

Italy has rolled out the red carpet for Xi, who on Friday sought to allay Western unease over his transformational infrastructure initiative by emphasising the $1 trillion project’s mutual benefits.

Italian firms to benefit include the Ansaldo group, which wins a contract for making turbines, and the Danieli group, which lands a 1.1 billion euro deal to build an iron and steel plant in Azerbaijan.

The accords also foresee the opening up of the Chinese market for Italian oranges as well as a partnership for Chinese tourism giant Ctrip, notably with Rome’s airports.

Cultural tie-ups are also on the agenda while Beijing is pushing to have several Serie A football matches played in China — although that would currently contravene regulations of the game’s governing body FIFA.

“We are well aware, with this memorandum of understanding, that there is risk as well as opportunity,” said secretary of state for the economy Michele Geraci, who spent a decade working in China.

Italy has made a point of giving a full welcome to Xi, despite the misgivings in Washington and Brussels.

Critics say Beijing’s ambitious maritime, rail and road venture is “predatory” and overwhelmingly favours China and Chinese companies.

But Xi has rejected any idea of a conflict of interest after talks with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella.

“China wants commercial exchanges to go both ways and for investment to flow in both directions,” he said.

Mattarella responded that business must go “in both directions... with fair competition, respecting intellectual property rights while fighting counterfeit goods”.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2019