President Xi Jinping’s trip to Italy, Monaco and France promoted new expansion of the Belt and Road in Eurasia, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.
Xi arrived in Beijing on Wednesday after wrapping up his state visits to the three European countries. It is his first overseas trip this year. During the six-day visit, Xi traveled to five cities and attended more than 40 events.
On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, hosted a farewell ceremony for Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan. Xi also met with French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, National Assembly President Richard Ferrand and Senate President Gerard Larcher on the same day.
“Wherever President Xi went, he took the Belt and Road and produced a harvest of practical cooperation there,” Wang said.
Witnessed by Xi and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on Saturday on jointly building the Belt and Road. Italy became the first G7 member country to sign official documents with China on the Belt and Road.
The Italian government’s strategic decision of joining the Belt and Road is pragmatic and visionary, Wang said.
Xi and European leaders also had in-depth talks over China-Europe relations and global governance issues, boosting confidence on maintaining multilateralism, Wang said.