The Sino-italian Bilateral Partnership Within The Framework Of The MOU

China and Italy are united by a friendship and a partnership that last for 51 years.Both countries are not only ancient civilizations with a long history,from Ancient Rome and the Han empire,directly and indirectly,but contacts between the two countries have also been going on for a long time.On November 6,1970,the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Italy formally established diplomatic relations,and since the establishment of diplomatic relations,exchanges between the two countries in political,economic,military,cultural,scientific and technological fields have become increasingly frequent;a friendly cooperation in various fields has made progress.China and Italy share broad consensus on major international issues such as safeguarding world peace and promoting common development,and have carried out good cooperation in international affairs.In the last three decades,the deep bilateral trade and economic relations with some of the most advanced and developed countries brought great advantages to the economic growth of China.After the recent world recession,China has maintained its position of major partner for many industrialized actors,as well as Italy.Italy has always been one of the principal trading partners for China,since the two economies disclose a number of similarities and connections in production structures.In the last decade trades and investments between the two countries increased and it can be assumed that the interdependence of the two economies has slightly increased.Thus,it can be hypothesized that the interdependence between the two economies and the cooperation at different level brought to the process towards the signature of the MOU of March 2019 and the consequent entrance of Italy into the Belt and Road Initiative.China and Italy have signed nineteen deals stated in the MOU,which set off a new era for the Sino-Italian bilateral partnership(ten more are between private companies).Italy also joined the ‘Belt and Road Initiative',the People's Republic of China's infrastructure maxi plan,which includes ports,railway lines,roads,and maritime corridors.The nineteen institutional arrangements,in addition to the collaboration within the ‘Economic Silk Road' and the 21 st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative,range from promoting collaboration between innovative start-ups to the agreement between the two governments to eliminate double taxation on income taxes as well as to prevent tax evasion and avoidance through a protocol on plant protection requirements for the export of fresh citrus from Italy to China and a MOU on the prevention of theft,clandestine excavations,import,export,trafficking and illicit transit of cultural goods together with the promotion of their return.This research aims to analyze the ongoing progress of the China-Italy bilateral partnership,exploring the benefits and advantages for both countries,considering the economic recess of Italy(such as lack of investments in the infrastructures,in the research and innovation field),but its strategic geographical position and the ‘Made in Italy'.It also ponders the importance of Chinese direct investments in Italy,imports-exports,and the advantages of joining the Belt and Road Initiative.First,Italian ports and rails connect the Mediterranean zone to the North and the East of Europe;Italy is also the bridge between Africa and Europe.The geographical position,the efficient and fast controls at the frontier drove the Chinese attention toward the country.Secondly,Italy needs investments in the infrastructures,especially in the South,so the Chinese investments are very beneficial.Moreover,through a comparative analysis of the two countries' socio-economic and political systems,this research monitored events,activities of collaboration,and exchanges in several sectors,including the economic and financial cooperation after Italy joined the Belt and Road Initiative in March 2019.Thus,the thesis is that China and Italy will maintain a long and solid bilateral partnership over the years,thanks to the institutions' constant dialogue and cooperation.This research illustrates the results of this win-win bilateral partnership.