Chinese PM visits Italy
Italy: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was set to seal an economic
partnership with Italy on Thursday after fending off EU pressure to
increase the value of the yuan to help ease massive trade imbalances.
Wen will meet with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and President
Giorgio Napolitano, as well Chinese community leaders during his one-day
visit to Rome - the third leg of his week-long trip across Europe,
officials said.
"A dozen agreements for cooperation in the economic, justice,
cultural, scientific, environmental and financial sectors will be
signed," the embassy said in a statement on the eve of the meeting in
Rome.
"The two sides will also announce a three-year action plan to
reinforce economic collaboration... to define the priority sectors and
projects for pragmatic cooperation," it added.
On Tuesday, Wen told a Europe-China business forum: "I say to
Europe's leaders - don't join the chorus pressing (China) to revalue the
yuan."
He warned such a move would bankrupt many Chinese companies and
create social unrest, ultimately increasing global economic instability.
Italy's La Repubblica daily reported earlier that Wen would speak to
Berlusconi "about high-speed rail, airports, the ageing ports of
southern Italy, highways and industries to be relaunched.
"For China, Italy is one of the most convenient trade platforms on
the Mediterranean and the billions from China's sovereign wealth fund
are ready to be invested in infrastructure," La Repubblica said. Rome,
AFP |
