Li's visit deepens ties with Europe

China has declared 2014 "the year of Europe" and its top leaders are making every effort to deepen relations with the European Union and its member states. Two months ago President Xi Jinping paid a historic visit to EU headquarters in Brussels after visits to the Netherlands, France and Germany. Premier Li Keqiang visited the United Kingdom and Greece last week as a further demonstration of China's interest in deepening relations with Europe.

Sino-British relations had suffered after Prime Minister David Cameron met the Dalai Lama in 2012. Now relations have been described as "very close" by the British prime minister who said that Chinese investment in the UK during the past two years was higher than in the previous three decades. This closeness was perhaps best symbolized by the queen inviting Premier Li to tea at Windsor Castle, an honor rarely bestowed on foreign dignitaries who are not head of state.

Li said that he had three main reasons for visiting the UK at this time: to deepen economic cooperation; to learn from Britain's experience in modernization; and to change misperceptions and ease misgivings about China.