ITALY celebrates its national day today to commemorate the start of its constitutional republic in 1946 after being liberated from the Nazis, but modern-day Italy owes much to the historical influence of China.
In response to the excesses of fascism and the devastation of World War II, Italy reformed. It turned into a democratic nation state that was committed to a peaceful international order.
The legacy of the Roman Empire and the role of the Catholic Church, which has its headquarters at the Vatican in Rome, are other well known influences on Italy.
However, perhaps less obvious is the contribution China has made indirectly to the development of the modern Italian state, and to Europe in general.
Marco Polo, the Venetian merchant and traveller, brought back with him many aspects of Chinese life after staying 17 out of 24 years spent overseas in the Middle Kingdom.
He left with his father and uncle in 1271, when he was only 17 years old, and when he returned published his experiences in Description of the World. In it, Polo detailed many aspects of Chinese life that were later adopted by the Italians.