China’s foreign ministry on Thursday defended the controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) after Italy officially withdrew from the flagship Chinese infrastructural project, saying that it holds “enormous appeal and global influence”. However, the Chinese response did not single out Italy for criticism.China’s foreign ministry on Thursday defended the controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) after Italy officially withdrew from the flagship Chinese infrastructural project, saying that it holds “enormous appeal and global influence”. However, the Chinese response did not single out Italy for criticism.