EU-China: Building upon a dialogue among strategic partners
The European Union (EU) and China celebrated 35 years of diplomatic relations in 2010. Since 1975, both actors have followed their own path – continuous integration and enlargement for the EU, constant development and integration in the global system for China. The bilateral relationship evolved along the way. Today, they have both become global players, with global responsibilities. Their relationship is now depicted as a strategic partnership, since the 2003 “maturing partnership: shared interests and challenges in EU-China relations”. But are they really strategic partners ? What does it mean? How could they become truly strategic partners?
(Photo credit: © Committee of the Regions, Wim Daneels, Flickr)