Switzerland is set to sign a cooperation agreement with China on the Belt and Road Initiative this week.

Swiss officials believe this will help the two countries enhance their cooperation particularly in third-party markets.

It comes following Italy endorsing the BRI earlier this year as the first G7 developed economy to do so.

Brussels-based freelancer Georg von Harrach sat down with Tiziana Beghin, a member of the European Parliament representing the Five Star Movement party in Italy. She is a member of the International Trade Committee in the European Parliament.

She says the memorandum between Italy and China is economically important and many other European countries want to increase trading relations with China.