Li: "China and Italy remain global strategic partners"

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by Maria Novella Rossi

17 September 2021 An Anglo-Saxon-style alliance launched by the USA to contain China's influence in the Pacific, the EU which is elaborating its strategy with the People's Republic, while trying to safeguard economic and and then Italy, the country that has always seemed to have a special relationship with China, despite being in line with NATO, as the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella reiterated at the ceremony for the 70th anniversary of the presence of NATO bases in Italy.

The tradition of cultural friendship between Italy and China is lost over the centuries, affinity, contacts between the two worlds since the time of the Roman Empire, or of Marco Polo, the Italian traveler who reached Cathay at the end of 1200, or of the Jesuit Matteo Ricci, who in 1600 became a Mandarin to evangelize the Ming emperor, just to mention the most famous characters in the West.

Relations between Italy and China seem to have always had a privileged path, a history on which not only cultural exchanges are based but from which, after all, economic and commercial agreements also benefit, given the admiration that China has in comparisons of some Italian excellences, food, fashion, tourism.

"China and Italy are global strategic partners", declared the Chinese ambassador Li Junhua in this interview, although he is aware that the impact of the pandemic has changed the geopolitical assets of the world, and in part also relations with Italy, from the moment that the West has accused China because it is held responsible by many for spreading the COVID 19 virus.

After the WHO investigation into China, the West asks Beijing for further clarification on the origin of the virus. We asked the Chinese Ambassador to Italy Li Junhua what we can expect from China to shed light on this matter and how relations between Italy and China have changed, after Italy and China signed the MOU, the Memorandum of Understanding, in March 2019. on the New Silk Road on the occasion of the visit to Italy of Chinese President Xi Jinping, a framework document that the Prime Minister Mario Draghi is now reviewing in the light of new post-pandemic developments.

Ambassador, there are no certainties on the origin of COVID 19 as confirmed by the US Intelligence report requested in May by American President Joe Biden, whose rumors were then relaunched by the Washington Post. The West still asks to shed light on what happened. In your opinion, what can we expect from China for further clarification on this matter?

Ambassador Li:

“Tracing the origins of the virus is an important step in winning the battle against the pandemic and requires respect for science, cooperation and the elimination of manipulations on the part of all. But even the so-called US intelligence report did not produce any tangible evidence and was unable to establish whether the virus jumped from human to animal or came out of a Wuhan laboratory, a hypothesis. without scientific basis and even less credible. This stubborn form of political manipulation and prejudice against China has already raised widespread questions from various parts of the international community. As far as I know,more than 80 countries have already expressed their rejection of the politicization of research into the origins of the virus either by letter to the WHO Director-General or by issuing statements and requesting that the joint China-WHO relationship be protected instead. In addition, more than 300 parties, civil society organizations and think tanks in more than 100 countries and regions have submitted a joint statement to the WHO Secretariat rejecting the politicization of research into the origins of the virus. On the web in China, more than 25 million internet users have sent an open letter requesting an investigation into the US Army biomedical research laboratory at Fort Detrick, in the United States. These are voices that represent justice. China's attitude has never changed:we have always attributed great importance and actively participated in world scientific cooperation for the research of the origins of the virus. Anchoring ourselves to the principles of science, openness and transparency, we welcomed two WHO expert missions to conduct research on the origins of the coronavirus; at the end of which China and the WHO published a joint report on the origins of the coronavirus which draws authoritative, professional and scientific conclusions and represents a starting point for global cooperation on the spread of the virus. Not long ago, China delivered to WHO two aidé-memoires respectively entitled: "Doubts about Fort Detrick (United States Army Infectious Diseases Research Institute)" and "Status of coronavirus research conducted by team of dr.Baric at North Carolina University ". China strongly opposes the politicization of the origins of the virus. Instead, he argues that we must be guided by scientific evidence and that a research phase on the origins of the virus is necessary to be conducted jointly in different countries and regions of the world ”.

How have relations between Italy and China changed after the pandemic? What are the cultural exchanges and trade agreements between Italy and China currently?

Ambassador Li:

“China and Italy are global strategic partners. We seek the beneficial results from cooperation, show deep appreciation for the respective culture and help each other in times of trouble. Between January and July of this year, bilateral trade between China and Italy exceeded 41.1 billion dollars, recording a growth of 41.2%. Italian exports to China recorded an increase of 63.2%. In the last two years, the two countries have signed several agreements for the export of Italian agro-food products to China such as those on beef, rice and kiwis. In the cultural field,China and Italy have further tightened ties in the field of cultural heritage protection and promoted the inclusion of additional cultural assets of both countries in the UNESCO World Heritage. China has actively participated in the Bologna Children's Book Fair, the Milan Furniture Fair, the Biennale and the Venice Film Festival. The postponed China-Italy Year of Culture and Tourism will be held next year whose preparatory activities have already begun, including the invitation that has been extended to Italy to participate in the most important art festival in China, the Shanghai International Arts Festival, as the Guest Country of Honor.The postponed China-Italy Year of Culture and Tourism will be held next year whose preparatory activities have already begun, including the invitation that has been extended to Italy to participate in the most important art festival in China, the Shanghai International Arts Festival, as the Guest Country of Honor.The postponed China-Italy Year of Culture and Tourism will be held next year whose preparatory activities have already begun, including the invitation that has been extended to Italy to participate in the most important art festival in China, the Shanghai International Arts Festival, as the Guest Country of Honor.

In a few months there will be the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Could this be the right occasion to relaunch relations between Italy and China?

Ambassador Li:

“The people to people exchange is a point of excellence in Sino-Italian relations. The inauguration of the Beijing Winter Olympics is getting closer and closer. All the structures are ready and the preparatory works are now in the final phase. Guided by concepts such as ecology, sharing, openness and integrity we are fully confident of being able to organize sober, safe and exciting performance Olympics. We are pleased that Milan-Cortina will organize the next edition, in 2026. This has already created new opportunities and a new platform for the two countries to expand interactions and cooperation. A few days ago, President Xi Jinping in his telephone conversation with Prime Minister Draghi stressed that it is necessary to support each other in organizing the Winter Olympics.And also that it is important to take advantage of this opportunity to strengthen cooperation both in the winter sports sector Italy has traditionally been a strong country in winter sports and currently the coach of the Chinese national men's ice hockey team, that of the Paralympic ski team. descent and the assistant coach of the Chinese national sled team are all from Italy. TechnoAlpin for snow production and the Italian ski brand Nordica and other Italian companies are doing a great job in China. This month Italy participated in the "World Winter Sports Expo" in Beijing as a Guest of Honor and received great attention and appreciation.I am confident that alternating in the organization of the Winter Olympics will be an opportunity for the two countries to strengthen contacts in the sporting and cultural fields and will ensure that cooperation achieves new results.

In this period, the world's attention is on Afghanistan and the events that are shaking the country. Has China had a long-standing relationship with Afghanistan in order to develop the infrastructure of the New Silk Road? To pacify the situation on the border with Xinjiang? Could you explain to us what the relations between China and the Taliban are? Will it be possible for China to rely on the Taliban?

Ambassador Li:

“The situation in Afghanistan has already undergone a radical change and everyone must accept it and adapt to it. Regarding the future of Afghanistan, the international community must respect the principle "the Afghan people lead the country and own it", and foreign forces must provide positive support for the political transition in Afghanistan to take place in a conciliatory and smooth way and to be a peaceful reconstruction of the country is possible. Afghanistan is one of the countries bordering China with which diplomatic relations were established as early as 1955 and the two peoples are linked by a historic friendship. Afghanistan clearly supports the Belt and Road initiative and cooperation between the two countries has always been based on the principle of consultation, joint construction and sharing,just like the one with the other countries joining the New Silk Road. Infrastructure projects carried out in Afghanistan with Chinese aid have actively contributed to national and regional interconnection and have been appreciated by the Afghan people. Peace and stability in Afghanistan are closely linked to the security and stability of the region. China, on the basis of respect for the national sovereignty of Afghanistan and the principle of non-interference, maintains normal contact and communication with the Taliban. China hopes that Afghanistan will build an open and inclusive political system, pursue a moderate and stable policy both internally and abroad, cut all ties with terrorist organizations and at the same time develop friendly contacts with other countries,in particular with neighboring ones. China believes that the positive signals spread by the Taliban in the last period must be taken into consideration and encouraged to adapt and transform themselves into a modern political force.

Finally a question on geopolitics. It has been said that the US has withdrawn from Afghanistan also to turn to the Pacific area where Taiwan is. Do you think the Taiwan issue and the defense of that area could lead to a war between China and the US?

Ambassador Li:

“These are two completely different issues in nature that absolutely cannot be compared or linked. The changed situation in Afghanistan has shown, once again, that, whether in the past or in the future, forcibly imposing one's values ​​on another ethnicity or culture is unlikely to be successful. The United States and other related countries should think deeply, learn the lesson and truly respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan and also the right of the Afghan people to self-determine their own destiny, which is well other than leaving without caring about anything and leaving Afghanistan and the entire region to handle the chaos.

Furthermore, Afghanistan is a sovereign country, while Taiwan is an inalienable portion of the national territory of China. If the United States plays the "Taiwan card" what it does is "play with fire", it is very dangerous. China has a firm determination and sufficient capacity to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity and any external force must not have any I would like to stress that China has always supported peaceful development and has no interest in waging a "hot or cold" war. I believe that peace and development are the main themes of our age. Peaceful coexistence, cooperation win-win are in the common interest of all peoples of the world. I hope that the United States will meet China to carry on mutual respect and dialogue,manage differences, avoid conflicts to promote a return, as soon as possible, of bilateral relations on the right tracks.