Cina e Italia: attività diplomatiche nei decenni

The paper aims to illustrate the development of China-Italy relations, through a preliminary analysis of prominent diplomatic contacts and bilateral agreements. Since its establishment in November 1970, bilateral relations have experienced periods of flourishing exchanges; especially in late Seventies and Eighties when the opening and reform policy in China, as well as the economic boom in Italy encouraged commercial cooperation. During Nineties, Italian efforts to adopt an original approach to bilateral relations - through a pioneering re-opening of the dialogue with China after Tian’anmen - had been seriously undermined by a domestic political crisis. The new millennium seems to witness a more strategic vision of the development of bilateral relations, with particular focus on cultural and economic agendas.