GREAT EUROPEAN POWERS ARE GONE BABY GONE THE CHINA PRICE

"If investment does not come from China to build ports, refineries, railway lines and so on, then where will it come from?"

From nowhere........................................................................

The soft underbelly of Western Europe.................

The Chinese have already taken over the made in Italy label:
The "made in Italy" label carries a reputation for quality worldwide, and is legally protected for products items processed "mainly" in Italy.

In recent years, Chinese factories based in Italy using Chinese labour have been challenging that mark of quality.

Italian officials have been keen to point out that the deal they signed is not an international treaty, and is non-binding.

Other European nations already accept Chinese investment through something called the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, he said - something the UK was the first to sign up to.

"And then one by one, France, Germany, Italy and everyone else also followed suit," Italy's undersecretary of state for trade and investment, Michele Geraci, says.

Similarly, he believes Italy's neighbours will soon follow it into the Belt and Road initiative.

"I do believe that this time Italy is actually leading Europe - which I understand may be a surprise to most," he added.