Mutual understanding

When the top leaders of China and the EU sat down yesterday for their annual summit in Jiangsu, the province itself - which hosts the regional headquarters of a cluster of top-notch European firms - was testimony to deep-rooted economic ties between the two sides.

Yet relations between the two major global powers, if they are to reach a truly strategic level, need a more solid foundation than mere economic bonds.

They should surpass ideological differences, and secure mutual understanding and respect to avoid derailment and maintain stability.