Romano Prodi, former prime minister of Italy and former president of the European Commission, has voiced strong support for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), calling it a constructive proposal that should be approached through sustained cooperation and shared governance between China and Europe.
In an interview with China Media Group (CMG), Prodi said the BRI should not be mischaracterized as a unilateral Chinese geopolitical tool, noting that the initiative was originally presented as an open and genuine framework for international cooperation.
"The Belt and Road Initiative, I like it so much. In Europe, the idea that this was just a Chinese instrument, this is not the case, because in the beginning (it) was a real proposal. So I think that we have to accompany all our relation with the the sense of governance, the sense of common action, let's say of synergy. And this needs a daily cooperation, not only some sort of statement, then things go in the other direction. This in my experience are the problem that we have created in these years, letting an increasing separation of Europe and China," said Prodi.
The former Italian prime minister also pointed to shifting attitudes in Europe toward China, saying China's rapid development has triggered anxiety in some political circles.
According to Prodi, fear has increasingly replaced perceptions of equality or parity, and such sentiment has been exploited for domestic political purposes.
"Also because clearly the progress of China has been surprising. The change of equality or parity to the fear, there's been very few years. And this is a sentiment that politically, don't forget, politically is exploited always. Now fear is a political instrument for internal elections and so on, and they have created this situation. This is why I'm insisting on positive experiments and dialogue," said Prodi.
Former Italian PM voices support for BRI, calls for China-EU cooperation
Israel aims to fuel division among Lebanese factions by holding direct talks with the Lebanese government, said a senior Hezbollah official in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
Bilal Lakkis, a member of Hezbollah's Central Committee, said Israel's military plans are failing in southern Lebanon, with no prominent military gains despite weeks of bombardment.
Israel has been bombarding most bridges over the Litani River, leaving only about two intact, in what appears to be an attempt to create an expanded buffer zone or to advance further north. Asked how Hezbollah views this strategy, Lakkis dismissed Israeli objectives as incoherent and militarily unachieved.
"Every day one of Israel's leaders says something different. Some say 'we need protection from the attacks', others say they want an occupation to settle the Israeli military. A third group says they want a buffer zone. A buffer zone needs a huge military victory, which has not been achieved. This proves that there is hesitance among them, there is no clarity. In any case, the region south of the river, some parts of it are just three kilometers between the river and the occupied Palestinian territories, so it doesn't achieve security," he said.
The United States hosted political talks for the first time in decades between the Lebanese government and Israel this week. Asked whether any agreement could be implemented without Hezbollah's consent and what Israel seeks from these negotiations, Lakkis was unequivocal in his rejection.
"The government is violating all laws. Some in Lebanon had hopes that the war on Iran would hit the brain, all the affiliates would perish. Instead they found success in holding negotiations in Pakistan. Every time Netanyahu fails militarily, he attempts to fuel the division within the Lebanese body," he said.
Asked about whether Hezbollah would avoid actions that might fuel such divisions, Lakkis emphasized the group's commitment to internal stability.
"The resistance in Lebanon doesn't want any internal instability. That is a long-standing historic stance. It's a red line for us to tamper with peace and stability. Moreover, the Arab and the Islamic support towards the resistance and Hezbollah specifically is at its best. To resist that is a way more valuable gain than to be dragged against an internal party. We are keen on national unity and Islamic unity," he said.
Hezbollah official says Israel aims to fuel division among Lebanese factions
