Italy seeking to leave ‘atrocious’ China Belt and Road plan without harming ties minister

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Joining China’s vast Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was an “atrocious” decision, Italy’s defence minister has said, and the issue was how to leave it without damaging ties with Beijing. Guido Crosetto said in an interview published on Sunday that the move made four years ago under a previous government had done little to boost exports, while Chinese exports to Italy had soared. Italy signed up to the BRI in 2019, becoming the only major western member. Crosetto is part of an administration that is considering how to break free of the agreement. The BRI scheme envisions rebuilding the old...