Separate missions by leaders of France and Germany to China this week are expected to bring China-Europe relations to a new stage of development, following a chilly period.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's three-day visit, which started on Wednesday, will help amend damaged ties with China, following the disruption of the Beijing Olympic torch relay in Paris in 2008 and Sarkozy's meeting with the Dalai Lama in defiance of Beijing's opposition. The official visit by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton marks the first visit by a high-profile EU delegation since the election of its new commission members last year.

Economic and trade cooperation will still dominate bilateral relations between China and France. China's ongoing campaign for economic restructuring and its unremitting efforts to develop a green, low-carbon and sustainable economy will further expand channels for cooperation with France, which is now struggling to recover from the impact of the most serious financial and economic crises after the end of World War II. Enormous changes that occurred on the international stage have pushed Sino-French relations beyond the bilateral scope.

An accelerating globalization has deepened interdependence among countries. Global security, climate and energy issues are growing threats that need joint efforts from the international community to tackle. At the same time, remarkable progress made by some emerging countries such as China in the past years has greatly enhanced their role in resolving global economic, political and security issues. The World Bank's decision on April 25 to expand the voting power of China, India and other developing countries in the institution is testimony to the increasing global influence of these emerging nations. Both China and France have been well aware of the changes in the world's political and economic landscape and have thus paid greater importance to developing ties with each other.

A common challenge facing Sino-French ties is how the two countries can seek an effective global governance formula to promote the development of the international community. All major powers, including China and France, cannot remain blind to global issues such as the restructuring of the United Nations, G8, G20, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and other international and regional organizations to better enjoy the benefits of globalization while reducing its negative impact. As two influential players in the international arena, China and Europe should deepen cooperation on these issues of global significance.

During his stay in China, Sarkozy is scheduled to meet President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao. Their talks are expected to focus on climate change, nuclear non-proliferation and security, as well as other issues of common concern. Paris is due to hold the presidency of the G8 and G20 in 2011 and expects more progress to be made in the push to tighten global financial supervision and reform the international monetary system.