Japan, Italy agree to promote high-quality infrastructure

ROME - Japan and Italy agreed Wednesday on the need for high quality infrastructure that can achieve both economic growth and fiscal sustainability, as Rome plans to promote projects under China's "Belt and Road" initiative.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte also agreed during their summit talks that the two countries will strengthen defense cooperation under an accord that took effect earlier this month, enabling the sharing of defense equipment and technology.

Japan and Italy have been boosting bilateral ties, especially in the field of security, at a time China is seeking to expand its influence both in Europe and Asia.

The summit came after the signing of a China-Italy memorandum on infrastructure in March made Rome the first member of the Group of Seven industrialized nations to endorse the Belt and Road scheme.

The development raised concern among the group, and within the European Union, about Beijing's future grip on key infrastructure for transportation such as ports. Critics say some developing countries are suffering from a heavy debt burden due to what they term as China's excessive lending.

During the talks, Abe explained Japan's position that infrastructure projects should ensure fiscal sustainability and transparency among other criteria Tokyo sees as important, according to a Japanese official.

As Japan seeks to create a "free and open" Indo-Pacific region based on the rules-based order, Conte expressed support for the initiative, the official added.

The visit to Rome, the second leg of Abe's six-nation European and North American tour, was intended to coordinate bilateral efforts before Japan hosts a Group of 20 summit in June in Osaka, western Japan.

Abe and Conte agreed to jointly promote free trade and address global agendas such as climate change.

On North Korea, the Japanese and Italian leaders shared the view that closer coordination is needed until Pyongyang abandons all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles in a complete, verifiable and irreversible way.

"We need to maintain pressure on Pyongyang," Conte said at a joint press briefing with Abe.

Abe met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella ahead of the summit.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190425/p2g/00m/0na/010000c