• China
• Chinese MNEs
• Eclectic Paradigm
• Italy
• outward FDI

Much of the contemporary International Business literature focuses on the determinants of FDIs from developing countries. Currently, an academic debate has arisen among scholars whether Outward FDI from emerging economies, and specifically from China, are explicable by the Eclectic (OLI) Paradigm developed by Dunning, or if China is a special case that needs a new theory. This thesis examines the determinants of Chinese overseas investments and presents empirical evidence based on an original database, which suggests that the internationalization of Chinese firms is grounded on specific features, that are different from those of developed economies MNEs, but it still fits within the OLI framework.