Italy says its relations with U.S. far more important than with China – Reuters

Italy’s Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio speaks during a news conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at Fiera Roma in Rome, Italy June 28, 2021. Andrew Harnik/Pool via REUTERS

ROME, June 28 (Reuters) – Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Monday that Rome’s relations with the United States are much more important than its ties with China.

The United States has expressed concern over Italy’s links to China, particularly after a previous Italian government signed up to Beijing’s Belt and Road infrastructure drive in 2019.

“We are a strong trade partner with China, we have a historic relationship, but it is absolutely not comparable, and it does not interfere with, the alliance of values we have with the United States,” Di Maio said at a news conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Reporting By Gavin Jones; editing by Angelo Amante

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