relations diplomatic. In later developments in China-EU relations, the differences in
these areas still existed, and moreover, they became, together with other issues such
as human rights, factors that occasionally caused a negative impact on the healthy
development of China-EU relations. Some disagreements and disputes even cov-
ered the cooperation in practical areas, casting a shadow over the overall view of the
relationship as having“far more agreement than differences,”as to its“being
strategic,”and as to its“being comprehensive”.
Despite the areas where China and the EU were at issue, cooperation between the
two sides had undergone a smooth development period before 2003. The substantial
cooperation, such as the decision to jointly invest in and develop the GALILEO
Global Navigation System (GNSS) (2002) and establish the China-Europe GNSS
Technology Training and Cooperation Center in Beijing in 2003, was evidence of
ample room for strategic cooperation between China and the EU. Undoubtedly,
when China and the EU announced the establishment of the comprehensive strategic
partnership in 2003, it was a good opening for such a bilateral relationship in terms
of both atmosphere and desire, and situation and contents. This good opening made
the Year 2004 the“Year of Europe”for China’s diplomacy, and the“Year of China”
for EU diplomacy. There were frequent high-level visits between the two, and China
established a bilateral Strategic Partnership with France and the UK, as well as a
couple of EU member States in Southern Europe. With the EU’s biggest large-scale
enlargement in history in 2004, the EU became China’s largest trade partner, and
China became the EU’s second largest trade partner, only after the US. China and the
EU not only experienced smooth cooperative development in the economy and
science and technology, but also achieved more and more common understandings
and interaction in some significant international affairs.
1.2 Discussions Concerning the Comprehensive Strategic
Partnership
A good opening, however, does not mean smooth progress. In the past decade,
the importance of China-EU relations was widely recognized. The observers,
commentators and government officials on both sides all believed that China-EU
relations were one of the most important links in world affairs.^6 Mr. Wen Jiabao,
former Premier of China, repeatedly pointed out that,“the core of China-EU
relations is strategic, the meaning lies in being comprehensive, the key lies in
keeping pace with the times”,^7 and the standpoint of the Chinese government“is to
always hold unswerving determination and confidence in mutual benefit and
(^6) See Shambaugh et al. ( 2008 ).
(^7) Speech delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao when he and EU leaders met the journalists.http://
http://www.china.com.cn/news/txt/2009-05/21/content_17809667.htm.
1 An Overview of the China-EU Strategic Partnership (2003–2013) 7