Silk Road successful says China after Italy's withdrawal

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 7 - "The 'Silk Road' is a successfulinitiative and the world's biggest platform for cooperationbetween countries," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman WangWenbin on Thursday in response to a question from ANSA in thefirst official comment following Italy's decision to withdrawfrom the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
   "China opposes the denigration and sabotage of the initiative,"as well as the "confrontation between blocs," added Wang,recalling the 150 countries "including Italy" that participatedin the third BRI Forum in mid-October.
   Italy formally exited the massive globe-spanning infrastructurescheme aiming to build a modern-day 'Silk Road' with a letterdelivered to Beijing a few days ago, sources said on Wednesday.
   The moves came after Italian Foreign Ministry Secretary GeneralRiccardo Guariglia went on a mission to China in the summer,followed by a visit by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
   The two States' intention to cultivate their strategicpartnership was confirmed at the meetings and preparatory stepswere taken for President Sergio Mattarella's visit to China nextyear, the sources said.
   Italy signed up for the BRI in 2019, making it the only G7country to do so, but the decision not to renew the involvementwas widely expected.
   The memorandum for Italy's participation in the new Silk Roadinitiative expires in March.
   The premier's office made "no comment" when asked about the moveon Wednesday.
   Photo: Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte shakes hands withChinese President Xi Jinping before their meeting at the GreatHall of the People in Beijing, China, April 27, 2019. (ANSA).