Final Remarks

In this work we focused on the long-term trade relations between Italy and China to try to reconstruct and understand the commercial and economic interests of two countries that today, in this period of systemic globalization, are increasingly involved in a context where China more than others, over the last quarter of a century, has experienced an improvement in the quality of life of most of its population. It has also seen a remarkable development of its regions and coastal metropolises, an increase in international trade and the expansion of the range of exports, together with the ability to withstand external shocks. Despite the rigidity of the Chinese political system, where the communist party has retained a monopoly on power, it has also shown a great capacity for adaptation. Italy’s penetration of China during the Belle Époque, and both before and between the two World Wars, though greater in numerical terms than in previous years, remained extremely modest when compared with the trade exchange that China already had with other European and non-European countries. On an economic level, various schemes for cooperation were attempted but never achieved the desired results. There were various reasons for these failures. Nevertheless, trade relations between Italy and China are an interesting case for illustrating the complexity of international dynamics. The absence of diplomatic relations between the two countries was actually counterbalanced by a reciprocal interest, seen in the development, albeit partial, of significant relations, though to a lesser extent compared with the other European countries. These contacts and this interest would lay the foundations for the diplomatic revolution in 1970 which in turn would lead to great changes. After the painful period of the Second World War and the political and economic changes in Italy and China, trade relations between the two countries strengthened and, given the trade trends and the trade agreements analysed, it can be broadly assumed that economic relations between Italy and China will become even closer, with plenty of room for further development, and stronger, with a positive influence on their future political and diplomatic relations. the growing commercial understanding is a further source of support for large-scale co-operative schemes, and not only in the economic sphere, where we find the memorandum signed by the Ministry for Foreign affairs and the National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China on the “financial cooperation to support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and the setting up of a bilateral working group in this sector”. Trade relations between Italy and China are continuously being strengthened thanks, also, to different cultural initiatives. Ultimately, Italy is moving closer to China and the initiatives undertaken are seeking the secure establishment of Italian firms on the Chinese market; this policy offers ample possibilities for successful Italian investment and much more besides.