China's reliatory sanctions against the European Union are "unacceptable", Italy's deputy foreign minister Marina Sereni told China's ambassador Li Junha at a meeting at the foreign ministry on Wednesday.
"Italy confirms its support for the measures adopted by the European Union, and rejects Chinese sanctions as unacceptable," said a foreign ministry statement after Sereni's and Li's meeting.
"They go contrary to the basic rights of freedom of expression, speech, thought, and opinion, the exercising of which is part and parcel of the fullness of democracy and its values, from which Italy and the EU take inspiration," the said the statement.
China this week announced a blacklist of 10 individuals including European lawmakers as well as two EU bodies and two think-tanks. The move came after the bloc imposed sanctions Monday on four Chinese officials and one entity over human rights abuses in China’s northwestern Xinjiang region.
"Italy reiterates its unwavering position on safeguarding human rights and fundamental liberties, and expresses its solidarity with the European parliamentarians, academics, think tanks, and functionaries affected by the Chinese sanctions," the statement added.
During her meeting with Li, Sereni told the envoy she hoped "open, frank dialogue and collaboration" would continue between China and the EU, who are "key players" in global affairs, the statement concluded.
