Italy summoned China's ambassador for a meeting on Wednesday amid worsening tensions after it imposed retaliatory sanctions on the 27-nation European Union.
"The foreign ministry notes that the Chinese ambassador in Rome has been called to the ministry tomorrow over Beijing's sanctions against the EU," said a statement on Tuesday.
"The ambassador will be received by deputy foreign minister Marina Sereni," the statement added.
In coordination with its allies, including the US, UK and Canada, the EU on Monday slapped sanctions on four Chinese officials and one entity over human rights abuses against the Muslim Uyghur minority in China’s northwestern Xinjiang region.
The move prompted China to swiftly announce its own blacklist of 10 individuals including European lawmakers as well as two EU bodies and two think-tanks.
