Chinese President Xi Jinping's current European trip marks a new departure for China-EU relations, and also presents three strategic opportunities for China and the EU; now is the perfect time for both China and Europe to achieve dreams, to develop together, and to act in mutual self-interest.

First is the reforming opportunity in China. Strengthening China's reform and continued EU integration provide great opportunities for bilateral cooperation. Both China and Europe have adopted a strategy for the years up to 2020, and both sides jointly adopted the "China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation" during the 16th China-EU Summit in November of last year, setting out the shared aim of promoting cooperation in the four areas of peace and security, prosperity, sustainable development and people-to-people exchanges. China and the EU have become partners in reform.

China and the EU have long regarded each other as major economic and trade partners. In terms of internal divisions of responsibility, the Chinese premier is in charge of economic and trade matters, while the EU 'Cabinet' – the European Commission - is responsible for external trade affairs. Germany and other European countries also operate according to the cabinet system, so the structural process of China-EU relations is based on the role of Prime Minister.

The bilateral system is now improving. Xi Jining's trip to Europe marks the first visit of China's head of state to the Netherlands and to the EU headquarters in Brussels, and at the same time is the first such visit to Germany in 8 years. Xi's European trip injects new momentum into China-EU relations.

Second is the development opportunity for bilateral ties. Over the past 10 years China has become the second largest trading partner of the EU, and the EU has become China's largest trading partner. Sino-European economic relations are evolving from trade-led cooperation to a dual model driven by investment and trade. They are transforming from economic and trade dominant cooperation to include more contacts in economy, polity, and culture. These are indications that China and the EU have established a solid and high-level foundation in economic and trade dialogue, strategic dialogue, and cultural exchanges. After the Treaty of Lisbon came into force, China and the EU launched negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty - if both sides reach an agreement, it will offer more opportunities in terms of a Sino-European free trade zone negotiation.