Over the last years, EU-China relations have moved forward a great deal from the times when　　 they were labelled by many experts as "weak and "far away. Europe is today Chinas largest tt:ad:ing　　 partner and from Iran to Africa, from the global economic downturn to climate change, the two parts　　 are coming into contact over an increasing number of areas and inteRSts. To maximise the mutual　　 benefits of tbis growing interdependence, officially labelled in 2003 as a "strategic partnership", China　　 and Europe vould strongly need an increase in mutual undersranding and trust Yet, as was seen with the abnrpt posrponement of the 11th China-EU summir last year. this increase is bampered bydifferences on a number of thomyissues, notably fibet.