EU-China relations

President Xi Jinping arrived in the Netherlands on Saturday to begin his first trip to European Union since taking office more than a year ago.

His tightly scheduled trip, which includes attending the Nuclear Security Summit in the Hague and a visit to the European Union headquarters as well as four major European countries, points to the importance China and the EU have attached to their relations.

However, the significance of his visit goes far beyond his meetings with the leaders of the Netherlands, France, Germany, Belgium and the EU Commission and the specific agreements to be signed.