China and the European Union (EU), as two global powers, should be more diligent to move bilateral ties on a number of issues forward, especially in the post-Lisbon Treaty era.

The treaty was signed by EU member states on Dec 13, 2007, partly because grievances had emerged among European nations over the bloc's inability to mold its dominant economic weight into the status as a world-leading power that commands political influence on a global scale. With the Lisbon Treaty taking effect late last year, a more cohesive EU is expected to play a bigger role in world affairs. Some have blamed the bloc's inability to boost its international status on its failure to forge a unified foreign policy as well as its overly soft diplomatic stance.

China, as an emerging player in Asian and world affairs that has expanded its relationship with the EU, should be well adapted to the EU's formation of a new power framework. Undoubtedly, the new composition of the EU "troika" will play a very important role in establishing the bloc's policies toward China and implementing its course of action.