All-time high

Ambassador Markus Ederer says the best way for Chinese to know Europe is to see it for themselves. Wu Chuanjing / China Daily

"We have started massively to reform the system. You see the member states restoring budgetary discipline, their competitiveness. You have seen the European Central Bank saying it will do whatever it takes to keep the euro. We have established a European stability mechanism worth 500 billion euro in case an intervention is needed, and we are moving toward a banking union.

"We will come out stronger from the crisis than we went into it," he says, conceding that the debt crunch is the biggest challenge to hit the EU in its existence.

"But almost paradoxically, it has not reduced in its appeal. Especially in China, I have noticed an increased interest in the EU. And that's understandable, because we are China's biggest economic partner.

"Also, look at the EU itself: We will welcome Croatia as the 28th member state in July," he says. In the eurozone, Latvia and Lithuania are seeking entry, and Poland is interested. "All of which," he says, "demonstrates the attractiveness of the EU."

He notes that just last month, before her China visit, Ashton brokered a deal between Serbia and Kosovo over a long-standing dispute. "Ultimately," Ederer says, "that happened because both countries wanted to have a prospect to enter the EU."

As the EU ambassador, Ederer's top wish is that Chinese come to the continent and see for themselves.

"We welcome Chinese visitors, be they students, researchers, tourists and businessmen, and we have been very active in trying to improve the visa facilitation. China was the first country where we created a common Shengen visa procedure, and we have worked hard to create visa centers outside the embassies and consulates, which has increased the capacity to give visas."

Last year, there was an increase of 18 percent more Schengen visas for Chinese, including 50 percent more individual visas.

He hopes such contact enables Chinese to appreciate European values: democracy, individual freedom, solidarity and human rights.

"I would like China to understand that the European Union holds a promise and an offer for China," Ederer says. "That is, when it comes to building global peace, social development and democracy. When it comes to major power relations, the EU is China's best partner."

His work has taken him around the country, but without much time to enjoy the landscape. "When I have some free time here I like hiking, biking and skiing - that's what I do around Beijing on weekends."

Thanks to such opportunities, the warmth he has felt from the Chinese people, and a very special day on the Great Wall last May, Ederer says, "China will always occupy a romantic niche in our hearts."

Contact the writer at michaelpeters@chinadaily.com.cn.