Relations with North-East Asia
North-East Asia is a region with a highly growing economic, demographic, political and strategic weight.
Italy is present in the region with Embassies in Beijing (China), Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (South Korea, also responsible for North Korea) and Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia). There are also Consulates General in China in Shanghai, Chongqing, Canton and Hong Kong, and in Japan in Osaka, as well as seven ICE Offices, including one in Taipei.
Since 2004 Italy has had a Global Strategic Partnership with the People’s Republic of China, whose main instrument is the Italy-China Government Committee, co-chaired by the respective Foreign Ministers.
Another instrument of economic coordination is the Joint Economic Commission.
Economic and trade cooperation is of central importance in bilateral relations. In 2021 China was the leading export market in Asia (15.69 billion euros) and our fourth largest trading partner (with trade worth 54.2 billion euros).
Relations between Italy and Japan are solid and characterised by regular visits and high-level meetings. Japan is the second largest Asian market for our exports (7.5 billion euros), which is also the result of the 2019 EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
A Strategic Partnership was launched with South Korea in 2018, which envisages Meetings for collaboration in the areas of industry, energy and trade promotion.
The main instruments of cooperation in the relations with Mongolia are the Economic and Technical Commission and the Political Consultations.
Since 2000 Italy has maintained diplomatic relations with North Korea and supports the inter-Korean dialogue within the framework of the EU policy of critical engagement towards North Korea.