- X says 'alert' to manipulation efforts after pro-Russia bots report
- US, European markets rise before Boeing unveils sweeping job cuts
- Small Quebec company dominates one part of NHL hockey: jerseys
- Comoros shock Tunisia, Salah, Mbeumo strike in AFCON qualifiers
- Boeing to cut 10% of workforce as it sees big Q3 loss
- Germany win in Nations League as 10-man Dutch rescue point
- Undav brace sends Germany to victory against Bosnia
- Israel says fired at 'threat' near UN position in Lebanon
- Want to film in Paris? No sexism allowed
- Ecuador's last mountain iceman dies at 80
- Milton leaves at least 16 dead, millions without power in Florida
- Senegal set to announce breakaway development agenda: PM
- UN says 2 peacekeepers wounded in south Lebanon explosions
- Injury-hit Australia thrash 'embarrassing' Pakistan at Women's T20 World Cup
- Internal TikTok documents show prioritization of traffic over well-being
- Israel says fired at 'immediate threat' near UN position in Lebanon
- New US coach Pochettino hails Pulisic but worries over workload
- Brazil orders closure of 2,000 betting sites
- UK govt urged to raise pro-democracy tycoon's case with China
- Sculptor Lalanne's animal creations sell for $59 mn
- From Tesla to Trump: Behind Musk's giant leap into politics
- US, European markets rise as investors weigh rates, earnings
- In Colombia, children trade plastic waste for school supplies
- Supercharged hurricanes trigger 'perfect storm' for disinformation
- JPMorgan Chase profits top estimates, bank sees 'resilient' US economy
- Djokovic proves staying power as he progresses to Shanghai semi-finals
- Sheffield Utd boss Wilder 'numb' after Baldock death
- Little progress at key meet ahead of COP29 climate summit
- Fans immerse themselves in Marina Abramovic's first China exhibition
- Israel says conducting review after UN peacekeepers wounded in Lebanon
- 'Party atmosphere': Skygazers treated to another aurora show
- Djokovic 'overwhelmed' after 'greatest rival' Nadal's retirement
- Zelensky in Berlin says hopes war with Russia will end next year
- Kyrgyzstan opens rare probe into glacier destruction
- European Mediterranean states discuss Middle East, migration
- Djokovic proves staying power as progresses to Shanghai semi-finals
- Hurricane Milton leaves at least 16 dead as Florida cleans up
- Britain face 'ultimate challenge' in America's Cup duel with New Zealand
- Lebanon calls for 'immediate' ceasefire in Israel-Hezbollah war
- Nihon Hidankyo: Japan's A-bomb survivors awarded Nobel
- Thunberg leads pro-Palestinian, climate protest in Milan
- Boat captain rescued clinging to cooler in Gulf of Mexico after storm Milton
- Tears, warnings after Japan atomic survivors group win Nobel
- 'Unspeakable horror': the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- Stock markets diverge before China weekend briefing
- Christian villagers 'trapped' in south Lebanon crossfire
- Sabalenka sets up Gauff showdown in Wuhan semis
- EU questions shopping app Temu over illegal products risk
- Kim Sei-young holds lead with late birdies at LPGA Shanghai
- Toulouse welcome Dupont 'boost' as Olympic star returns to Top 14
Italy says it wants Chinese carmakers but only under conditions
Italy will closely study any investments by Chinese carmakers, a minister said Thursday, after another minister said Wednesday the country was in talks with three Chinese manufacturers.
"These collaborations must be attentively evaluated and we must pay attention to unfair competition," Vice-Premier Antonio Tajani said on the margins of a conference in Rome.
"We must pay attention that there is always reciprocity in these relations," he said, adding that Italy's cabinet would have to sign off on any eventual arrival of a Chinese group.
Minister of Economic Development Adolfo Urso said Wednesday he was in talks with three Chinese automobile groups, without naming them.
Chinese giant BYD Monday said it had been approached by the Italian government about investing in the country. The need for another European factory in addition to its existing one in Hungary "depends on our sales, and for the moment they are progressing well," said Michael Shu, head of BYD's European operations.
"It's only with the arrival of another car constructor that we can reach our target of a million cars produced a year," Urso said.
Stellantis, which owns Fiat, is the only mass market car producer in Italy though there are also speciality sports carmakers.
Urso said Italy has also been in contact with Western groups such as Tesla, whose plan to expand its factory near Berlin has run into opposition from local residents.
The talks with Chinese groups come after Italy last December withdrew from China's controversial Belt and Road Initiative, a massive project of linked maritime and land transport infrastructure projects.
Stellantis, which last year raised its production in Italy by 9.6 percent to 752,000 cars, has warned against allowing in Chinese companies.
"If we invited more Chinese constructors to produce in Europe, do you think this will help us," Chief Executive Carlos Tavares said in mid-February.
The European Union is concerned about unfair competition from Chinese carmakers and last October launched an investigation into alleged subsidies they receive from the Chinese government.
F.Pedersen--AMWN