It might not sound like a big deal, but the implications are huge.

乍聽之下可能不是什麼大事，其影響卻極為深遠。

If Rome does indeed sign its support for the Belt and Road on the dotted line later this month, it'll make Italy the first of the G7, the world's most advanced democracies, to do so.

倘若義大利政府真的在三月下旬簽署對一帶一路的支持，那將會是 G7 會員國中—也就是全球最進步的民主國家裡的先鋒。

That doesn't actually mean China will suddenly start building bridges in Italy, but it does potentially put Rome in line to benefit at some point.

並不是說中國會立刻開始在義大利建造橋樑，但那的確表示有一天義大利將可能受惠於中國。

For China, that is a massive win.

對於中國來說，這是一場重大的勝利。

The Belt and Road is President Xi Jinping's signature policy.

一帶一路是習近平總統的指標性政策。

However, China has been roundly criticised for creating debt traps for smaller countries.

然而其他國家不斷嚴厲批評中國是在替小國設下信貸陷阱。

By that, I mean building projects that the host country will struggle to repay and which could put them in debt permanently to China.

換言之，那些建案受惠國將難以償還，永久欠中國一筆債。

China is also accused of saying that projects are commercial when their real interests could actually be military.

中國也被指控儘管建案標榜為商業性，實際上卻是軍事考量。

One such example is a port in Pakistan that could ultimately be used as a staging post for the Chinese navy.

舉個例子來說，巴基斯坦有座港口最終可能會被用作中國海軍的中繼站。

The criticism of Italy's upcoming move has already started.

義大利近期內之舉動已經點燃各方批判。

The US says it is skeptical that the endorsement will bring sustained economic benefit to the Italian people.

究竟義大利對一帶一路之聲援能否為義國人民帶來持久的經濟利益，美國對此表示質疑。

It says the Chinese program is made by China for China.

美方認為一帶一路既然是中國所計畫，自然也會以中國利益為首。

The EU is also voicing concerns, but controversy or not, the Belt and Road is forging ahead.

歐盟方面同樣表達疑慮。但無論爭議性有多大，一帶一路確實正快速進行中。

It's already the biggest infrastructure effort in history.

一帶一路已經是歷史上最龐大的基礎建設工程。

The program embraces more than 80 countries and over 2,000 deals, worth more than a trillion US dollars, have already been agreed since it began six years ago.

該計畫自六年前啟動以來，已經涵蓋超過 80 個國家、超過 2000 筆交易、價值一兆美元以上。

China says its aim is to lay the foundations for a brighter and more prosperous future for everyone.

中國聲稱自己的目標是為了所有人、為了更光明繁榮的未來奠下基礎。

It touts its own experience as an example.

中國頌揚自身經驗來當作實例。

Put infrastructure in place and China says economic growth can really take off, just like it did back home.

一旦基礎建設就位，經濟成長就能起飛—中國就是這麼走過來的。

But opposition from America could yet hamper China's ambitions.

不過來自美國的反對壓力仍然可能壓制中國的野心。