Mattarella’s appeal: "China must work to end Russian aggression"

A frank discussion, because “among friends” there must be no “veils”. If yesterday in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jiping he had launched an appeal to avoid the return of “opposing blocs” and “unjustifiable barriers” today Sergio Mattarella invited Beijing to exercise its leadership in a responsible manner and “capable of today’s crises ” all the way: “Work to end the conflict in Ukraine” and “add your voice” to end the war in the Middle East. Italy’s recognition is full of China, both for its role as interlocutor but also for its ability to act on the international stage. It can do so on a global level, without building partisan orders but within the framework of international rules and rights.

The “Italian studies”

Italy, for its part, will play an important role in the bond between the European Union and China, with the common goal of “building a peaceful future”. Beijing Beida University, a facility that trains more than 28 thousand students, the occasion is the signing ceremony for the inauguration of chair of “Italian Studies”financed by the Agnelli foundation (John Elkann is also there, “I’m not talking about Stellantis abroad, he explains, recalling that the meeting called by the Ministry of Enterprise will take place on 14 November), there is Romano Prodi who was assigned the first chair (“For me it was a surprise”, he says. Trump? “If he does the things he said it will end badly…), there is Pierferdinando Casini, new honorary president of the China-Italy forum. But above all there are many young people who came to listen to the lectio magistralis of the President of the Republic. In the end, many will applaud his speech, others will not.

Mattarella’s speech is inspired by the cultural relationship between Rome and Beijing (“The symbol of our common history is Marco Polo”), recalls how dialogue between different cultures is an essential element for peace, refers to the Ancient Silk Road , “a pioneering route” along which “courageous merchants traveled across otherwise very distant continents”, relaunches the hope for greater collaboration between the two countries on the challenges of the future, from that on artificial intelligence (“The comparison is more important than never”) to tecological transitionreiterates that neither Italy nor Europe want “one new season of protectionism” and, indeed, the objective is to achieve a balanced relationship on a commercial level “and the removal of barriers that hinder access to the Chinese market for excellent Italian products, (to the Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang and to the President of the National Assembly of people Zhao Leji this morning underlined the convergence of views with Xi Jiping and the need for more investments by Beijing)”.

Human rights

But then Mattarella also tackles the thorniest issues. Starting from the protection of people’s rights (“It does not mean interference”) to the attention “aimed at reaffirming elementary freedoms” for the Indo-Pacific area, “wisdom is indispensable on all parties involved so that we refrain from unilateral initiatives that can exacerbate existing difficulties”, the invitation from the Head of State who then asks for China’s commitment on the two most important war fronts, Ukraine and the Middle East.

The sentiment of the Head of State emerges when a student’s question about the war needs to be answered. “It destroys everything. It surprises me that some rulers in the world forget it”, the premise, “war prevents there being winners. In the event of war, no one wins, everyone is defeated, peace must be cultivated. In the soul”.

Ukraine

My thoughts turn to Vladimir Putin’s offensive. The President of the Republic is clear: “It is unthinkable that a permanent member of the UN Security Council would violate, as the Russian Federation did by invading Ukraine, fundamental norms of international law by using force against its smaller neighbor to impose one’s own will. To acquiesce in such behavior would mean consigning the community of States to barbarism.”

Hence the no longer deferrable need for a responsible intervention on the part of Beijing: “Let it use its great authority on the international stage to reiterate its traditional position in support of the norms of coexistence of the international community”, let it work “to put an end to the brutal Russian aggression against the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, the first step towards a just peace on the basis of the principles of the United Nations Charter”. And also make yourself heard to contribute to “blocking the spiral of violence” in the Middle East “torn by the criminal terrorist attack by Hamas against defenseless Israeli citizens, by the unacceptable trail of violence against the civilian population of the Gaza Strip, by the enlargement of conflict in southern Lebanon”.

The need is to “stop the war immediately” and “initiate solutions to the enormous humanitarian crisis”. And therefore – Mattarella’s words – “I trust that China will want to add its voice so that the various regional actors exercise moderation and a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine can finally be applied”. Furthermore – the request of the President of the Republic – it is necessary to “keep free and safe naval transit” in the Red Sea “where currently non-state actors, also supported by powers in the area, threaten free trade in defiance of international law”, it is important for China and Italy.

“Our common commitment – the Head of State’s invitation to the friendly country – must be to strengthen multilateral forums – starting with the United Nations – so that they can effectively reduce tensions, settle disputes, monitor the proliferation of armaments, to list just a few of the great issues of our time.”