Italy is the first G7 country participating officially in China’s silk roads project. But what the Italians themselves have to say? Cui Mu and Giulia Saudelli reports from the small town of Vado Ligure.
“This is definitely not a beautiful view outside my window, but it brings in jobs, so a Plus!” Marco Maietta says on the market in the Northern Italian town of Vado Ligure. Less than 100 meters away from the beach. It is the middle of April, no one swims here in the Ligurian sea or in the sun. From the distance, a sound penetrates over the buzz of huge cranes, which travel quickly back and forth. They belong to a Container Terminal that is being built.
Vittorio Boccalate is visibly enthusiastic about the progress of the construction project. In front of a blue portal cranes, the engineer explained that it was the first semi-automated container terminal in Italy. “As soon as it is put into operation, can be transported all the containers automatically from the crane bridge to the storage area or Vice versa, and sorted.” Only the Loading and Unloading of ships, trains or Trucks would have to be manually controlled, he says the DW-reporters.
The fountain in the centre of the small town of Vado Ligure
By the end of the year is about to begin
If everything runs smoothly, to delete the first container ship by the end of the year at the new Terminal. “A delivery of the goods is possible at all, we owe our supplier ZPMC of Shanghai,” says Boccalate. There is no individual crane systems, but a whole together game System. “This Chinese company is essential for our project.”
New crane systems for the container port of Vado Ligure
In addition to ZPMC, there are more Chinese companies that are involved in the Development of the port. So Cosco Shipping co-managed with APM, a Dutch subsidiary of the Danish shipping company Maersk, the construction and operation. APM Manager Paolo Cornetto DW reported that his company had already worked prior to the investment of Cosco in 2016 successfully with Chinese companies. After the full commissioning of Vado Ligure to handle annually more than a Million containers and nearly 400 new jobs.
“We have no fear of the Chinese”
For a small town with 8000 inhabitants, this is not a small number. Vado Ligure, just 50 kilometers away from the large port of Genoa, is situated in a traditional industrial region. However, many of the economically bad years in Italy have destroyed many Jobs. That’s why, as mayor, Monica Giuliano, need the city’s urgent need for investment, especially in the port. “This is not only the gateway to the Mediterranean sea, but a large gate for cargo from around the world.”
Monica Giuliano, mayor of Vado Ligure
The 46-year-old city boss grew up in Vado Ligure, and is happy about the Chinese participation in the development of their port. A “strong Partner” to bring new opportunities and fresh money; and by using contracts and laws you need to Worry about a potential debt trap, or the working conditions – the most common criticism of Chinese foreign investment. “We have no fear of the Chinese. Our desire is, the Plan is to continue to implement.”
Even local trade unionists have no Worries. Rather, you’ll think about, where as soon as possible new Jobs can come in here, tells Danilo Causa of the trade Union CISL. “No, absolutely not afraid of China. You come in, you put your money here, you come here to earn money. For us, new jobs are most important to you. And you also need to respect the labour law in this country.”
In a written reply to a DW request Cosco emphasized: “Through our investment regions to obtain better development opportunities. It is a matter of the whole industry chain and create more jobs: Thus, a Win-Win Situation between us and the local society is possible. We are confident that the Sino-Italian cooperation experience in the framework of the project of the ‘New silk road’ more and more successful, and that it is becoming more and more popular with the Italian population.”
In neighboring Genoa: A Container, the shipping company Cosco in front of the port authority
Criticism from Brussels and Berlin
As China’s head of state Xi Jinping was at the end of March to visit in Rome, Italy signed a Memorandum of understanding with China. The southern European country is the first G7 member to join the ambitious silk road Initiative. This week, Italy’s Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte flies to Beijing, where the so-called “silk road summit”.
In the EU, many see the Italian alone critical. Brussels is worried that Rome will be economically and politically dependent on China and, therefore, the sovereignty of Europe could be undermined as EU budget Commissioner Günter Oettinger has warned. Federal foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned that a short-term lucrative Deal in the long run could also have a bitter aftertaste.
But in Italy, hardly anyone seems to care about a common future with China. Gian Enzo Duci, President of the shipping Association Federagenti, says in a DW Interview, Italian shipping companies would face in Chinese investment is a large potential for growth. “China has a great interest in the regions around Genoa, or Trieste. This means that if we can continue to invest in our rail networks properly, then our ports are not only a goal of the Chinese to the North of Italy, but also to Central Europe, such as Switzerland or southern Germany.”
In Vado Ligure, where already since years, Chinese money is flowing, could be the currently undergoing Expansion, the port set a positive example for Italian silk road ambitions. The people here are more than confident, as Vilma Calvini: “We have no Problem with the Chinese. With your money you are welcome!”