”No, my hand isn't here. The declaration was made in South Korea, I'm in Verona. But it is certainly a source of great satisfaction for me even if, mind you, all of this must now be translated into concrete projects and plans". This was stated by former premier Romano Prodi in the morning after what was declared by Chinese premier Hu Jintao on his invitation to invest in Italy.
”We must take note – explains Prodi – that goodwill towards our country has returned because the statements made by former premier Berlusconi had caused a progressive separation of China from Italy. From today we can well say that there is no longer a red light. But this is only the first step."
”For this availability of Beijing to become real – he underlines – the right conditions need to be created. I am thinking of credible financial investments, the search for serious and productive combinations between our systems, the availability of entrepreneurs who have the courage to go to China and who, consequently, encourage the Chinese to come to us".
"For now - he continues - China has removed the red light and therefore the road is clear. To be privileged partners we will have to deserve it. However, it is important for Italy to return to the international system: the cards of international politics are held together, one country helps the other and so on. Since China is so important, it is inevitable that a declaration like that of Hu Jintao will end up increasing our prestige”.
“For us – continues Prodi – there are important export prospects in sectors such as luxury products, our food production, the quality of wines''. On the possibility of China also investing in our government bonds, the former prime minister states: “I don't think the possibility of buying our bonds can be defined as negative. Isn't it better to have much more stable government bondholders than investment banks who buy and sell the next day, and then again the next day? But it must also be said that the Chinese can buy BTPs only if they know that Italy is stable and the bonds' expiry will be respected”.
”I believe – he concludes – that this message of stability is coming. Naturally Rome is not built in a day and neither is the new dignity of Rome”.
