Meloni tells China premier of Italy's plans to exit BRI

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni privately signaled to Chinese Premier Li Qiang that Italy is planning to exit from an investment pact that has become a test of her nation's relations with the US.

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During a meeting on Saturday on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in India, Meloni told Li that Italy plans to withdraw from Chinese President Xi Jinping's signature Belt and Road Initiative while still looking to maintain friendly relations with Beijing, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named. Italy officially signed up for the pact in 2019.

At a press conference after the G-20, Meloni said she spoke to the Chinese premier about BRI but a decision had yet to be made. "Belt and Road is not the only element that builds our bilateral relationship with China," she said, adding that other European nations had been able to negotiate better relationships with Beijing without signing up to the initiative.