UPDATE 1-Italy FM: Belt and Road China deal did not bring expected results

Trade between Italy and China has not improved as expected since Rome joined Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative four years ago, Italy's Foreign Minister said on Saturday. Under a previous government, Italy in 2019 became the first major Western nation to join China's infrastructure initiative, despite protests from the United States. "The Silk Road did not bring the results we expected," Antonio Tajani said at the European House Ambrosetti economic forum shortly before leaving on a trip to China.