Europe’s relationship with Beijing will largely be determined by the emerging “special relationship” between China and Germany. However, the rest of Europe must find ways to help Germany be a good European in its relationship with China – or risk being cut out of the loop.

The EU is due to decide on Monday whether to lift sanctions against Burma. Instead of lifting all sanctions the EU should follow a gradual approach and focus on targeted assistance and an ambitious social-responsibility framework for European companies.

Merkel’s recent visit to China was meant to assure Chinese risk-averse leaders that Europe is back on track. But the visit was also a part of the mosaic that makes up European foreign policy towards China.

There are encouraging signs that the junta ruling Burma is starting to reform, and the country has been visited by Hillary Clinton and several top politicians from Europe. The EU's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, also needs to pay Burma a visit, and soon.

Last year was a tipping point in China's approach to the world, and expectations are rising that Beijing will shoulder ever greater responsibility on the global stage. But if China joins the US as a world policeman, should the rest of us be worried?

As its international profile and interests grow, China's foreign policies - now those of a great power - are coming under increasing scrutiny. Here are the four fault lines that are forming in how Beijing deals with the world.

Denmark is about to go to the polls, and Europe has been strangely absent from the election campaign. If the EU is to re-invent itself and survive, it must rediscover a constructive place in the national political conversations of member states.

The USA and Europe have something in common: they need China's money. In the coming decade, the three economic centres of the world have to find better ways to interact on financial and economic matters.

Berlin and Beijing have a flourishing trade relationship, and Wen's visit to Germany today will strengthen political links. With ministers from the two governments about to stage a major meeting, China is a test case for Germany's changed role in Europe.

Last week's meeting between China's ambassador to Qatar and the head of Libya's opposition movement signalled a departure from Beijing's traditional insistence on not interfering in the internal affairs of other nations. China's growing interests around the world means that we can expect more of the same in the coming years.

EU-China relations are maturing, and this is allowing a more frank and pragmatic approach to negotiations. The red carpet treatment for Herman Van Rompuy when he visited Beijing recently is testimony to this.

Events in Libya have forced China to bend its cherished principle of non-intervention – not least in order to rescue 35,000 of its citizens from the country. Is this the moment that Beijing steps onto the world stage as a great power?

Eight trends to watch out for in the Year of  the Rabbit: ECFR's China experts cut through the buzz of news and comment to highlight key trends and debates that could define China’s future relationship with Europe and the world.

Recent Chinese investment in Europe means that the EU now shares a quandry raised by Hillary Clinton: How do you talk tough with your banker? If Europe is going to manage it, member states must stop putting short-term bilateral advantage first.

The Nobel peace prize ceremony earlier this month demonstrated that Europe can act together against heavy-handed Chinese pressure. But unless EU member states consistently eschew bilateral advantage in favour of a united stance on China, Beijing will divide and rule the continent.