China's view of Europe

China has the second-largest economy in the world and, since 2013, it's been the biggest trading nation globally. Mainly because of economic interests, Beijing is eyeing the EU and its 500 million consumers. Every day, more than a billion euros worth of goods are traded between the two entities, making the EU China's most important trade partner. Nevertheless, the United States occupies the central position in Chinese diplomacy due to its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

'Giants with deficits'

Still, the EU has an overwhelmingly positive reputation in China. It is losing its luster, though.

Qiu Yuanlong, Europe expert from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, considers the oft-cited image of "the economic giant and the political dwarf" to be obsolete.

"I have my doubts about whether you can depict the EU as an economic giant. Even though the GDP is high, its economy isn't so competitive. So in that sense, the EU is just a giant with deficits," Qiu Yuanlong tells DW, adding that the same is true of its military.

In 2003, the EU and China upgraded their diplomatic relationship to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," the second highest classification in China's foreign policy. This generally translates into, more than anything, lively visits, according to Francois Godemont, a China specialist with the European Council.

"There is the once a year summit routine, there are maybe 70 or 80 today regular groups at the EU level. If you add the 28 member states and their visits to China it all makes for a whole lot of interaction," Godemont tells DW.

A large number of personnel is needed to maintain relations: there are approximately 70 employees at China's EU embassy and the ambassador himself is a vice minister.

Uneven playing field

However, from China's point of view, the "strategic partnership" is sorely lacking because the EU isn't a full-fledged strategic player. This problem stems from the EU's own lack of unity.

Even though the 28-member bloc pursues common trade policies, it doesn't do this when it comes to political and social questions, according to Qiu.

"Each EU member state has a different view of human rights and China, of course, likes to hear what China-friendly countries have to say on that matter," he tells DW.

Some critics like to joke that there is not one European policy on China, but 29 (including Brussels).

"But China also attaches great importance to ties with individual member states such as Germany, France and the UK," Qiu says, adding that making progress with one country, for example Germany, sometimes helps Beijing when it comes time to deal with Brussels.

Brussels isn't calling the shots

Relations between Berlin and Beijing are, in fact, particularly close and just as much driven by the economy. Trade with Germany accounts for roughly 40 percent of China's total exchange of goods with the EU.

China also has a "strategic partnership" with Germany, as well as with France, England, Italy, Spain and Portugal. A particular characteristic of the German-Chinese relationship is the two-way government consultations. Once a year, there is a meeting of nearly all of each respective country's cabinet members, sometimes in Germany, sometimes in China. Germany only holds that level of dialogue with eight other countries.

China expert Godemont says the value of this exchange is important, but that it ultimately weakens Brussels because "the most important decisions and the most important conversations are happening elsewhere."

On the whole, the Chinese government is in no way anti-European, but its behavior is pragmatic, as Godemont sees it: Beijing chooses its partners based on which ones best serves its interests. Plus, working with each country is considerably easier given the complexity of the EU's decision-making institutions.