The unrelenting propaganda of fascist Italy and the two countries’ mutual economic interests led to joint industrial initiatives. Starting in 1933 and during the period of Ciano’s diplomatic activity (May 1930 to June 1933), the Generalissimo sent missions of his own to Italy to conclude trade agreements and familiarise themselves with fascist ideology and economic reforms. Kung Hsiang-hsi (1881–1967), a member of the Kuomintang Executive Committee, Minister of Industry and brother-in-law of the Generalissimo, joined the first high-level meeting in Rome. In February 1933, Kung met with the Pope and Mussolini. Returning to China, the Chinese minister communicated his favourable impressions of Italy directly to Chiang. From that mission, the initial foundations for economic and military co-operation were laid. Formal contacts began for the preparation of a training mission, designed to improve the effectiveness of the Chinese air force, which Chiang considered of strategic importance. The air force mission was later formalised through a diplomatic request to the fascist government on 10 April 1933, along with a purchase order for 100 million lire worth of military aircraft from FIAT and Caproni.
Notes on the air force mission
Quoting Donatella Strangio’s Italy–China Trade Relations, page 92:
In 1933, only one Fiat CR. 32 fighter plane was sold to China, but in 1934 business was excellent, as some 50 fighter and bomber planes were purchased from the Fiat, Breda and Savoia-Marchetti companies. In 1935, China also purchased spare parts, machine guns and bombs for a total of orders worth 48 million lire. The increase in orders between 1933 and 1935 was directly linked to the presence of the aeronautical mission, which comprised Colonel Roberto Lordi, head of the mission, Major Nicolò Galante and 12 other officers and non-commissioned officers.
The work of Colonel Lordi was important as it contributed to the reorganization of the Chinese army, the creation of technical infrastructures, the training of Chinese personnel and the foundation of an aeronautical industry in which Italy participated. One important project was the building of a military airport in Nanchang, but before it was completed, Chiang Kai-shek gave Lordi the task of organizing a bombing course for Chinese pilots who were being called on to put down the Fujiang Rebellion that had broken out in 1933 and was led by a group of pro-Communist politicians. In 1935–36, some courses were organized for officials and for the administrative staff, three repair workshops for equipment and engines were built, each one employing 300 workers, and a total of 800 technicians and specialists were trained (Borsa 1994, 263–266). The aeronautical mission experienced a crisis in the summer of 1935, coinciding with Colonel Lordi being struck down by an illness that left him needing a long period of convalescence. There was growing and open discontent in China because of the delays in aeronautical supplies arriving from Italy; an enquiry was opened, which revealed several administrative irregularities.
(Emphasis added. Further information is available here, but it is, of course, behind a paywall.)