Trieste in the Italy–China MoU of March 201917 – and one might wonder why the · MoU was struck with it rather than an established maritime-operations company · such as COSCO. The answer is that neither Genoa nor Trieste were looking for · collaborations directly on their ports: Genoa was considering Chinese investment

In March 2019, Italy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in support of PRC President Xi Jinping’s flagship infrastructure and connectivity project, the Belt and Road Initiative. The MoU was accompanied by a series of commercial agreements, including two between the ports of Genoa and Trieste and the state-owned enterprise China Communications Construction Company (CCCC).

Despite these challenges, Genoa maintained 2.8 million TEUs, demonstrating resilience through Swiss gateway dominance and Mediterranean short-sea shipping. This period offers calibration data for traders modeling geopolitical shock impacts on port volumes. 2019-2023: Belt and Road Era Italy's March 2019 Belt and Road MoU signaled Chinese infrastructure investments in Genoa terminals and rail connectivity upgrades.

September 21, 2020 - Chinese investments in the Italian ports of Genoa and Trieste were mentioned in the memorandum of understanding Italy signed when it joined China’s BRI last year, a fact that got some Europeans speculating about whether a Chinese presence in those ports would be a Trojan horse for China to dominate central Europe.

December 3, 2025 - Beijing has shown particular interest in Italy’s financial and insurance sectors, with State Grid of China investing in Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Reti to acquire 35 percent stake ownership and help launch its “Panda” bond program.

September 3, 2019 - China is Italy's largest trading partner in Asia, with bilateral trade growing 9.1 percent to $54.24 billion last year. The ongoing construction in Vado Ligure is the largest program for Italian ports. "Chinese investments, like the one in Vado Ligure, are necessary; if we want to develop a ...

November 7, 2025 - For Genoa, after record highs in volumes for 2021 and 2022, volumes in 2023 were back to the level of those of 2018 (Figure 3). Of course, an MoU by nature is not binding. Besides, research also suggests complex administrative and political factors behind the limited tangible Chinese engagement in these two ports[4].

September 2, 2019 - China is Italy's largest trading partner in Asia, with their bilateral trade growing 9.1 percent to 54.24 billion U.S. dollars last year. ... The ongoing construction in Vado Ligure is the largest program for Italian ports these years. "Chinese investments, like the one done in Vado Ligure, ...

August 30, 2019 - China is Italy's largest trading partner in Asia, with their bilateral trade growing 9.1 percent to 54.24 billion U.S. dollars last year. ... The ongoing construction in Vado Ligure is the largest program for Italian ports these years.

July 21, 2023 - With the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which positions Italy as a bridge between Europe and the Mediterranean area, Italian ports have been competing to

March 22, 2019 - Paolo Emilio Signorini, president of the Port Authority of the Port of Genoa, noted that Chinese investment endowed the Vado Ligure port with a new look. Thanks to the COSCO fleet, more and more cargos were entering the port, which further facilitated the development of local logistics industry, created more jobs, and injected impetus to the economy of Genoa, he said. “The construction of the Vado Ligure port is an important part to improve the supply chain in northern Italy, Switzerland and southern Germany, and the port will possess a vital strategic position in the Liguria region, greatly improving the efficiency of the terminals.” said Giovanni Toti, president of Liguria.

March 20, 2019 - A deal on the ports is expected to be on the agenda when Chinese President Xi Jinping heads to Rome this week for talks with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. The northwestern city of Genoa, Italy’s biggest seaport, said it would sign cooperation agreements with China, while in the south the Sicilian port of Palermo – which Xi is expected to visit this weekend – is the focus of Rome’s efforts to attract Chinese shipping operators.

China is Italy's largest trading partner in Asia, with bilateral trade growing 9.1 percent to U.S.$54.24 billion last year. The ongoing construction in Vado Ligure is the largest program for Italian ports. "Chinese investments, like the one in Vado Ligure, are necessary; if we want to develop ...

April 13, 2021 - To move forward with the project, ... owned the majority share (50.1%), while the two Chinese partners respectively held 40% and 9.9%....

1 week ago - The Port of Genoa is one of Italy's principal seaports. In 2024, its trade volume reached approximately 64.5 million tonnes, making it one of the busiest ports in the country—second only to the Port of Trieste in total cargo tonnage.

China is Italy's largest trading partner in Asia, with their bilateral trade growing 9.1 percent to 54.24 billion US dollars last year. WIN-WIN AHEAD The ongoing construction in Vado Ligure is the largest program for Italian ports these years. "Chinese investments, like the one done in Vado ...

August 30, 2019 - China is Italy's largest trading partner in Asia, with their bilateral trade growing 9.1 percent to 54.24 billion U.S. dollars last year. ... The ongoing construction in Vado Ligure is the largest program for Italian ports these years. "Chinese investments, like the one done in Vado Ligure, ...

To date the Ports of Genoa lead the way: 30% of Italy’s trade with China is currently channelled through the Ligurian port, and the market share is set to increase with the forthcoming completion of the new Calata Bettolo Container Terminal ...

March 7, 2019 - Since 2000, Chinese investment in the region has been about €7 billion, or about a third of what has gone to Germany. Hungary attracted about €2.4 billion of that sum, much more than any other Eastern European country. Italy has ports that are attractive to China in Trieste in the country’s northeastern region, in Genoa on the Ligurian coast and in Palermo, a Sicilian city close to Africa, where China has invested deeply.

July 15, 2026 - The database supporting this interactive includes 145 port projects of which Chinese entities have acquired varied equity ownership or operational stakes. China operates or has ownership in at least one port in every continent except Antarctica. Of the 145 projects, 132 are active, whereas the remaining thirteen port projects have become inactive due to cancellation or suspension by the end of July 2026.