Chinese and European Union (EU) officials held a high-level strategic dialogue on Tuesday amid heightened international discussion on where China is headed after displacing Japan as world's second-biggest economy. 

Catherine Ashton (left), the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, and State Councilor Dai Bingguo shake hands during a high-level strategic dialogue in Guiyang, Guizhou province, on Wednesday. [Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Catherine Ashton, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, and State Councilor Dai Bingguo co-chaired the one-day, closed-door meeting in Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province.

The dialogue is to outlay the foundation for the coming China-Europe Summit in October. Both sides have also further coordinated their stance ahead of a series of global governance issues, including the G20 and climate change. 

Speaking from Guizhou, a relatively poor province, Ashton said that while some people only see a rich China, based on events such as 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and Shanghai Expo, the nation is one of economic contrasts.

"The EU should understand China in a comprehensive way, not only the fast developing side, but also the fact that China faces various challenges in a vital transforming period," Ashton was quoted as saying in a press release by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

"The EU should enhance its dialogue with China economically and politically, and push forward China-EU strategic cooperating," said Ashton.