This book examines the political connections and trade relations between Italy and China, with particular emphasis on the second half of the 19th century and the period following the Second World War. In recent years, economic relations between the two countries have intensified as a result of increasing exchange and trade agreements, with positive impacts on their political and diplomatic relations. By studying original public sources such as the Archives of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bank of Italy and the Central State Archives in Rome, the author offers a historical perspective on the evolution of the two countries' economic and political ties. The respective chapters address e.g. the role of international governmental authorities, the role of the Italian Bank of China, the impact of trade agreements and foreign investment projects, etc. Given its scope, the book will appeal to scholars of economic history and international economics, as well as political scientists and legal scholars with an interest in international diplomacy and trade agreements.

Autorentext
Donatella Strangio is a full professor of Economic History at the Faculty of Economics and affiliated with the Department of Methods and Models for Economics, Land and Finance - Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. She has a P.h.D. in Economic History. She is the author of numerous books and articles on national and international journals. She is Director of Master's program in Business Management Sapienza University of Rome. Her more quoted works are on the famine in pre-industrial age, International and Italian Migration, Public Finance, Institutions and long run economic growth, and the history of tourism. She was a Research Fellow at the London School of Economics and the Maison des Sciences de l'Homme in Paris, and research visiting in CVCE (Luxembourg), UBA Facultad de Ciencias Económicas (Buenos Aires), Columbia University (NYC-USA).

Inhalt
Introduction.- China: It's Politics, History and Economy.- China and the Great Divergence.- Italy in China: 1861 - 1919.- Trade and Concessions.- Italy in China in the Interwar Years.- Evolution of Commercial Relationships.- Final Remarks.