Renew affinities to boost relations

Since economic, political and strategic relations between Europe and China are not commensurate with their mutual appreciation and reciprocal attraction, a formidable potential for synergy between the two still awaits to be unleashed.

The new French president, Francois Hollande, obviously faces daunting challenges on the economic front at home and in the eurozone, but the nature of the relations he will forge with China, the 21st century's most important factor of change, will also define his presidency.

At a time when the distribution of power is shifting rapidly - when Nicolas Sarkozy became French president five years ago, France's GDP was 73 percent of China's; it will be 33 percent in 2012 - leaders have to question their assumptions and re-evaluate their priorities.