Why is Italy involved in the G8?

The original group, the G6 (which included Italy) was formed in 1974 and intended to represent the world's largest and most economically influential industrialised democracies. At the time of formation, Italy was amongst them, though it was quickly expanded into the present Group of Seven a year later to incorporate Canada, and once more in the nineties to incorporate Russia. Arguably the membership still reflects the strongest democraticindustries, and they also represent the most powerful military forces. Italy was ranked as the sixth seventh economy in the world a couple of years ago, and unless it has been hit particularly strongly during the current recession I believe that it still the case. While China may have overtaken several members of the G8 in terms of gross domestic product, their GDP per capita is still very low and moreover, nobody recognises it as a democratic country. There has been talk of inviting some developing countries to join the G8 and further expand its ranks, however. There are five countries which could be invited, India and Mexico among them. China may be one of them - rightly or wrongly.