• “Huawei offers the best solutions at the best prices,” Italian industry minister Stefano Patuanelli said about the Chinese firm

• His comments on Sunday come after an influential parliamentary committee called on Rome to block the company

Chinese telecoms firm Huawei should be allowed a role in Italy’s future 5G network, the Italian industry minister said on Sunday after an influential parliamentary committee called on Rome to block the company.

The United States has lobbied Italy and other European allies to avoid using Huawei equipment in their next generation networks and to closely scrutinise rival ZTE, saying the companies could pose a security risk.

Both companies have strongly denied there is any such risk.

“We have passed legislation that guarantees national security. With the right defences, the possibility of (Huawei’s) access is not up for debate,” minister Stefano Patuanelli, part of the ruling 5-Star Movement, told La Stampa daily.