Recent China-EU relations have been overshadowed by a range of controversial issues. For instance, Beijing wants the EU arms embargo to be lifted and China to be recognised as a market economy.

Whereas Brussels has criticised the widening trade deficit, the undervalued Chinese currency -- at least in its view -- and the inadequate protection of intellectual property rights.

Contrary to its former approach, the EU has started addressing these issues more directly. This has accompanied a cooling-down of relations caused by various conflicts of interest between the two sides.

"The economy is booming and that's leading to problems such as the trade imbalance and the exploding Chinese currency reserves," explained Liu Liqun from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Changing scenario

But there's another reason why relations have cooled down, said Gudrun Wacker, a China expert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

For a long time, the EU only saw China as an outlet market: "But now we can see that China is playing a much more important global role, has more weight, and is claiming more rights for itself and more say. And the question is how China is showing its weight. And then of course the differences become much clearer."

Liu Liqun gave another reason: "In Germany, France and England there are new faces in government. This is why we're experiencing a change in the EU's policy."

EU member states competing

But Gudrun Wacker thought the EU's main problem was that it is disunited and cannot implement a common European China policy. She explained that the various member states were competing with each other to profit from China's economic boom.

She also thought there should be a clearer line with regard to political questions: "So long as there isn't a European foreign policy, which is worthy of the name, the common position will continue to be the lowest common denominator."

The EU-China summit begins on Wednesday in Beijing. It will be attended by Commission President Jose-Manuel Barosso and the Portuguese premier Jose Socrates, as well as Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabao. They are expected to sign a joint statement on Wednesday evening local time.