Populist premier Giuseppe Conte on Friday reaffirmed Italy's support for China's massive Belt and Road project linking Europe and Asia, provided it meets "the standards and principles sanctioned by European Union strategy".
''As for other connectivity projects linking Europea and Asia, which we retain to be just as valid, the same applies to the Chinese project," Conte told an ambassadorial conference at Italy's foreign ministry.
"It must be developed in an open and transparent way, respecting the standards and principles sanctioned by European Union strategy," Conte said.
Despite United States criticism and EU misgivings, Italy this Spring became the first G7 country to sign up to Chinese President Xi Jinping's signature foreign initiative to re-create the ancient Silk Road - the Belt and Road Project.
The Italian government inked a preliminary accord on the BRP - a massive infrastructure programme to boost trade by building roads, ports and facilities across Asia and Africa to Europe - during a visit to Rome by Xi in March.
A total of 29 deals were signed worth a total 2.8 billion dollars during Xi's visit.
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