ROMA (ITALPRESS) – It was held in the Senate, at the initiative of Senator Antonella Zedda and with the contribution of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China, represented by President Lorenzo Riccardi, a conference entitled “Italy-China: Economic Relations and Investment”. The conference was an opportunity to share reflections on the economic relations between Italy and China and our industrial presence in the market. The Italian Chamber of Commerce in China, part of the network of 86 Chambers of Assocamerestero, is today the largest Italian business association in the Asia-Pacific region. About 1,000 companies in the country belong to our network, including 800 in mainland China and 200 in the special region of Hong Kong.
“In the last year we conducted together with the University of Bologna a research on the historical roots of the Italian presence in this market; through the analysis of the archive documents of the Farnesina we have reconstructed the role of the association in facilitating trade, entrepreneurial networks and Italian mobility in the Far East. This story testifies to the depth and continuity of the links between the two countries throughout the twentieth century,” said Lorenzo Riccardi, President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China.
Today, after more than 120 years from the foundation of the association, there are in China about 1500 Italian companies, with investments for 16 billion euros, that generate a turnover of 33 billion, employ about 130 thousand employees and the exchange has reached 75 billion euros in 2025. China confirms our first market in Asia and the first supplier outside Europe. “Our companies invest in the same sectors that characterize the Italian export: mechanics, high range, fashion, agri-food, pharmaceutical and services” added Riccardi.
In the Geography of investments, the presence is strongly concentrated in eastern China, especially around Shanghai, which houses the largest port in the world and where the largest number of Italian companies in the Far East region is concentrated, along with the neighbouring provinces such as Jiangsu, with the industrial district of Suzhou, and Zhejiang, where new settlements are growing (including Jiaxing and Hangzhou). The total distribution of investments sees about 60% of Italian companies in eastern China, while the other areas share smaller shares, with the North and South both at 16% and South-West at 8%. With regard to trade, in 2025 the Italian export to China (equal to 14 billion euros) focused mainly on textiles and clothing, machinery, pharmaceutical and chemical. Imports from China (equivalent to EUR 61 billion) were mainly chemical, pharmaceutical, electronic.
The exchange reflects the structure of the two economies: on the one hand Italy exports quality goods and manufacturing technology, on the other hand it imports components, electronics and industrial chemicals, in an increasingly integrated system in the global value chains. In the first two months of 2026 trade increased by 8% to 12 billion euros and Italian exports marked a positive delta of 4.5% for 2.3 billion euros of export to China. “Of course, today our companies are facing new and complex challenges: the slowdown in consumption, the real estate crisis, geopolitical dynamics, the difficulties for SMEs and young people in access to the market, as well as some asymmetries in the conditions for foreign companies. At the same time, however, opportunities are proportional to the size of this country. China is today the first purchasing power economy, leader in global trade, industrial production, and promotes in Asia the largest free trade area. The new five-year plan strengthens technological, digital, infrastructure and sustainability development, in line with the bilateral action plan signed between the two countries with a value of 2027, in which the Chamber is also included as a primary actor.
To grasp these opportunities, the institutional missions promoted by the Government and the support of the entire Italian System are fundamental, in a context like the Chinese one where politics plays a central role in guiding the economy. It is also important to strengthen the aggregation between enterprises and promote smaller-scale realities. In this direction the CCIC coordinates the EU SME Centre, project of the European Commission aimed at supporting the presence of small and medium-sized companies in the Chinese market. It is equally important to promote reciprocity and reduce protectionist barriers, while the policies of attraction of Chinese investments towards Italy can help increase interactions and opportunities for Italian companies already present in China. The new tax agreement between Italy and China, in force since 2026, goes in this direction and promotes an increase in bilateral investments, closely linked to the trend of the exchange. It is important to promote a social security agreement, already signed by Germany, France and Spain, but not by Italy. Our companies have benefited from visa-free policies guaranteed by China and a facilitation for long-term Schengen visas would bring further benefits in relations with Chinese entrepreneurs and workers.
Investment attraction policies show an articulated system of tax incentives and special areas in China, with targeted incentives for investments in strategic regions such as the West, the Greater Bay Area and Hainan. Free trade areas and the network of trade and tax agreements strengthen the attractiveness and integration of the Chinese market in the regional and global context. Italian companies, based on the data of our survey 2026, see China as a primary destination in group strategies, with new investments to consolidate the local presence, promote research and development and expand traditional and digital distribution channels, with focus on top of range and innovation. In this context, the value of Made in Italy is expressed in the quality of our industrial fabric and in the presence of our companies in foreign markets,” Riccardi concludes.
– Press Office photos Italian Chamber of Commerce in China –
(ITALPRESS).
