'European season' visits to continue

Focus for both sides is on solutions to social, economic challenges

Close on the heels of President Xi Jinping's high-profile state visit to the United Kingdom - self-proclaimed as China's "best friend in the West" - will be visits by the leaders of Germany and France in quick succession, marking the highest-level interaction with the three biggest economies in Europe.

In between has been the visit by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, China's third-largest trading partner in the European Union.