Chinese President Xi Jinping is flying to Europe to ease concerns about his country’s investments in strategic sectors such as telecommunications.
Xi will prioritize a visit to Italy, where the government is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding to join China’s global trade and infrastructure initiative commonly referred to as the Belt and Road Initiative, or the “New Silk Road.” An Italian official recently indicated Rome’s intention to support the US$1 trillion programme.
The initiative has prompted caution across Europe, with several countries worried that large-scale Chinese investment could translate into outsized political and economic influence.
Telecommunications has emerged as a central front in this debate. Chinese vendors like Huawei have come under intense scrutiny over whether their equipment should be permitted in national mobile networks, especially as countries upgrade to 5G.
The United States has consistently opposed the use of Chinese networking equipment in critical infrastructure, citing national security concerns that such hardware could be exploited for surveillance at Beijing’s request. Ahead of widespread 5G rollouts, Washington stepped up diplomatic efforts urging allies to adopt restrictions or bans.
Many European countries share these concerns, even where they have not fully aligned with the U.S. approach. Earlier this month, the European Parliament expressed “deep concerns” about Chinese 5G technology and the potential risks it poses.
In Germany, intelligence officials presented assessments on Huawei to a parliamentary committee, noting that “past security-relevant events” involving the company contribute to its perceived lack of trustworthiness.
Relations between the U.S. and Germany also became strained when the United States warned it might reduce security cooperation if Germany allowed Chinese telecom equipment in its networks—an intervention experts described as unprecedented.
Huawei has pushed back on such measures. Earlier this month the company filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, arguing that actions taken against it were unconstitutional.
To address these international concerns, China recently pledged to expand cooperation with European and American firms on Belt and Road projects, aiming to make participation more transparent and mutually beneficial.
Xi is also expected to visit France during the trip. French President Emmanuel Macron has been one of Europe’s more outspoken critics of China’s global economic strategy, calling for a coordinated European response. “It’s a good thing that China is taking part in the development of many countries, but I believe in the spirit of equality, reciprocity. The spirit of equality means respecting the sovereignty of nations,” Macron said.
Xi’s state visits are scheduled to take place from March 21 to March 26.
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