Chinese President Hu Jintao paid successful state visits to Britain, Germany and Spain from Nov. 8 to 15.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union (EU), Britain, Germany and Spain are important member countries of the EU. Hu Jintao's visits have further upgraded China-EU relations.

The development of Sino-EU ties in recent years can be marked with dots and circles. Politically, China and the EU established a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2003; economically, bilateral trade volume topped US$170 billion last year, and the figure is expected to exceed US$200 billion this year. Cooperation in the fields of science, technology and culture is deepening from day to day. China-EU relationship has entered the best period in history.

The best period does not mean that there is no problem with China-EU ties. At present, problems in Sino-EU relations are manifested in such issues as the discriminatory ban on arms sales, full market economy status and related textiles trade. The existence of such problems shows from another aspect that whether in political or economic terms, there is still great room for the development of Sino-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. President Hu's recent visits to the three main EU member countries are important visits aimed to expand China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

The visits have consolidated and deepened bilateral political relationships.

During his trip to Britain, Hu elaborated the policy view on China's peaceful development. Personages in various British social circles expressed their views that China's development is not a threat, but an opportunity, and that Britain hopes to be China's dual partner in economic and political fields. During Hu's visit to Germany, which coincided with the transition period of change in the German government. Hu emphasized that the consensus on China-Germany friendship will not alter no matter how the world situation and circumstances in the two countries would change. The German side also clearly stated that the new government would maintain the continuity of its relations with China. During Hu's visit to Spain, the two sides published a joint communique, the first of its kind since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, which declares the establishment of China-Spain comprehensive strategic partnership.

Achievements of the visits indicate that the EU's concern and attention to China continue to rise in degree and, on the whole it adopts a welcoming attitude toward China's development, actively developing relations with China is the main stream and long-ranging strategic choice of the China policies adopted by various EU member countries, any short period or a single incident will not affect the general situation of bilateral ties.

The visits have promoted pragmatic cooperation in economic, trading and other fields. During the visits, China and the three countries signed a batch of important cooperation agreements or project contacts. China and the EU are strongly complementary in many spheres, EU countries possess powerful economic, and scientific and technological strengths, and they have lots of good experiences and practices in socio-economic development, environmental protection and other areas, while China has abundant human resources and a vast market, deepening cooperation will bring tremendous benefits to both sides.

The visits have strengthened cultural exchanges and dialogs.

China and the three countries have long histories and splendid civilizations, and both sides share the view that maintenance of the diversity of civilizations is an important force promoting dialogs among different civilizations and thereby enhancing communications and understandings.

During the visits, the cultural relics exhibition from the "flourishing and magnificent" Imperial Palace opened in the British Royal Academy of Arts. President Hu and Queen Elizabeth II of England cut the ribbon for the opening ceremony of the exhibition, the more than 400 pieces of rare cultural relics treasures from China added a unique and magnificent chapter to the history of Sino-British cultural exchange; China and Germany signed a new cultural cooperation agreement, President Hu Jintao and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder jointly laid the foundation for the Chinese Culture Center in Berlin, thus opening a window for German people to get perception knowledge about Chinese culture; China and Spain will set up a cultural center in each other's country , Confucius Institute will be settled in the hometown of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. China and Spain will respectively hold a "China Art Festival" and "The Year of Spain" in each other's country in 2007, the far apart Chinese and Spanish peoples will have more opportunities to attract each other.

Developing relations with the EU and EU countries is an important link in the overall situation of China's diplomacy. Under the current complex and volatile international situation, the importance of strengthening China-EU relations has been further upgraded. Hu Jintao's recent European tour is, without doubt, of the significance of linking the past to the future.

The article by Ma Xiaoning, the chief editor of People's Daily Overseas Edition, is carried on the front page of the newspaper Nov. 17 and translated by People's Daily Online