'Devastating decision...', Italy gave China a big blow

International desk:
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said Italy's decision to join China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) four years ago was "an immediate and devastating decision".  In an interview published on Sunday, Crosetto said the Chinese project had benefited Chinese trade but not Italy.
Italy's previous government had signed up to China's project, making it the only major Western country to do so.  But Italy's current government is regretting China's BRI project and wants to distance itself from it.
 The BRI project is an ambitious plan of Chinese President Xi Jinping to connect China with Asia, Europe and Africa for trade.  It is also called the New Silk Route.  China is spending heavily to build large infrastructure in this project.  However, critics say China is using it as a tool to increase its geopolitical and economic influence.
Crosetto said, “The decision to join the new Silk Road was a hasty and devastating one.  "This has increased China's exports to Italy many times over, but it has not had much impact on Italy's exports to China."