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When Catherine Ashton, European Union (EU) foreign policy chief, visits China this week, she will have an opportunity to focus on how to move EU-China ties forward. To her credit, Ashton is not just flying in and out of Beijing. She has been to Guiyang, capital of Guizhou province, too. This should give her the opportunity to see the huge contrast in lifestyles that make up China today.

Although they are reportedly strategic partners, on many issues the EU and China seem to be opposed to each other on many issues. This is reflected in the current negotiations on a new partnership agreement which is proving difficult to progress. The high point in their relations was 2003 when China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a positive assessment of the EU. It praised the successful...