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Italy was the first and so far only major Western nation to join programme

Leaders have begun to trickle into the Chinese capital for a gala event marking a decade of the BRI -- a key project of President Xi Jinping to extend China's global reach.

The new economic corridor will link Middle East and South Asia

Italy was the first major western nation to join the deal

Funds will be raised through grants and federal funds, and by leveraging private-sector investments