Italy reiterates its unmoveable position on safeguarding human rights and fundamental liberties, and expresses its solidarity with the European parliamentarians, academics, think tanks, and functionaries affected by the Chinese sanctions.
This is the basic message that Vice Foreign Minister Marina Sereni put across to the Chinese Ambassador to Italy, Li Junhua, called to the Foreign Affairs Ministry this morning.
Italy confirms its support for the measures adopted by the European Union, and rejects Chinese sanctions as unacceptable, as they go contrary to the basic rights of freedom of expression, speech, thought, and opinion, the exercising of which is part and parcel of the fullness of democracy and its values, from which Italy and the European Union take inspiration.
In conclusion, Vice Minister Sereni stated her hope that open, frank dialogue and collaboration would continue between China and the European Union, who are key players in global matters.