Significance of Li Keqiang's Europe trip

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is set to visit Germany, Russia and Italy from Oct. 9-18, during which time he will attend the third round of Sino-German government consultations and deliver a speech at the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

Since March of this year, China and the European Union, along with its member states, have seen a handful of high-level visits from both sides, during which top leaders have elaborated on topics in economy and trade, politics, science and technology, finance and culture.

Nor does Li's October tour in Europe mark the end of this year of Europe-oriented Chinese diplomacy. The China-Europe Summit and the forum on economic cooperation between China and central and eastern European countries, both scheduled for the end of this year, will add to the already frequent exchanges between the two sides. All signs show that Europe is claiming a more important position in China's diplomacy.

Balancing China's relationship with the European Union and the EU member states has been characteristic of the country's Europe policy this year. This year alone, top Chinese leaders have visited many EU member states, especially those still stuck in sovereign debt crisis. The good gestures from Beijing have solidified several EU states' bilateral ties with China, opening the opportunity for further cooperation.

Li's delivery of an address at the FAO also shows that multilateral relations are equally important to China, which is a world leader in agriculture. Li's planned speech there will assure the world that China will assume active responsibility in the global governance of agriculture.

Highlights of Li's trip

The third round of high-level government consultations between China and Germany will naturally be a key point on Premier Li's agenda. The Sino-German relationship has become more comprehensive and benign as a greater range of ever broader topics are incorporated into what has been called a deepened bilateral strategic tie in economics and politics.

The innovation partnership between the two countries will be central to this round of consultations, and achievement on this front will affect the quality of the upcoming premier-level communication, since innovation is currently the most important topic in China-EU relations. The areas, measures and patterns of cooperation between China and Germany in the innovation field will provide a basis upon which to build a Sino-EU relationship.