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Nicola Casarini, head of Asian Program of the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (FILE)
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The Belt and Road Initiative, with China's commitment to invest hundreds of billions of dollars for infrastructural loans and trade financing, will give new impetus for world trade and economic growth and benefit Italy's infrastructure sector, according to Nicola Casarini, head of the Asian Program of the Italian Institute for International Political Studies.
Italy, which is situated in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, is an important part in the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, Casarini told Beijing Review, adding that Italian ports and rail connections to the markets in Central, Eastern and Northern Europe have become the focus of attention of the Italian Government, and the Chinese are looking for opportunities in the logistics and infrastructure sectors to promote the Maritime Silk Road.
"Some Italian companies are more likely to benefit from projects related to this regional development initiative, including those operating in the logistics and infrastructure sectors," said the Italian scholar.
"One particular project has attracted the attention of Chinese and Italian business and political leaders since 2015: the five-port initiative in the Northern Adriatic Sea. It represents Italy's flagship Belt and Road project, having been presented by the Italian Government to their Chinese counterparts during their last bilateral summits," Casarini concluded.
Copyedited by Dominic James Madar
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