Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi: Wang: Both parties are accelerating efforts to optimise the free trade agreement.

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi: Wang: Both parties are accelerating efforts to optimise the free trade agreement.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to visit Italy and Switzerland from October 5 to October 12, according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry . This visit comes amidst a deepening of European ties with China, following Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's trip to Beijing in late July. During her visit, Meloni signed a three-year action plan and several memorandums of understanding with China, highlighting the potential for cooperation in various sectors, including automobiles and smart roads .

Wang Yi's visit will include high-level talks aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties. He is expected to join the 12th joint meeting of the China-Italy Government Committee and the fourth round of the China-Switzerland Foreign Ministers-level Strategic Dialogue . This visit underscores China's efforts to optimize its free trade agreements and expand its influence in Europe, particularly in Italy, which has been consistently supportive of Chinese firms and investments despite voting in favor of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles .

The visit also coincides with ongoing trade negotiations between the United States and China. In May, the two countries agreed to temporarily lower tariffs on mutual imports, but discussions on the exact amount of investment Washington is willing to accept are still ongoing . Meanwhile, the Trump administration has not ruled out imposing secondary sanctions against Russia in the form of 100% tariffs for India, China, and Turkey, aiming to pressure these countries to stop purchasing Russian oil and push Putin toward ending the war with Ukraine .

China's recent announcement of phased fees on US-linked vessels calling at its ports starting next Tuesday also adds a layer of complexity to these trade negotiations . This retaliatory action follows similar charges announced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative in April. The ongoing tensions between the US and China, along with the evolving diplomatic landscape in Europe, will likely shape the outcomes of these trade talks.