Beijing attaches great importance to its commitments, and even before beginning his visit to Europe, Xi chaired a session of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China's Central Committee on global governance, which urged the country's leadership to push for reforms in global governance in order to make it fairer and more reasonable.

Given the contrast between the US' and its European allies' views on and perceptions of China, one point is clear, that China should not be urged to shoulder more international responsibilities without the other global powers sharing their part of the responsibilities.

As far as the US is concerned, its rash actions in the South China Sea and elsewhere which raised security concerns are nothing but irresponsible behaviors. Even though it is the global leader and the world's largest economy, it should not exceed its brief if it really wants to help build a harmonious and peaceful world.

As for the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands and other European Union countries, they should not only play their due global roles but also oppose the US when it makes a move-for example, the one in the South China Sea-which could undermine regional or global stability. If they do so as the US' allies, they will show the world their commitment to build a harmonious global society. And the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Manila, G20 leaders' summit in Antalya, Turkey, and the UN climate conference in Paris will soon provide them the opportunities to perform their real global responsibilities.

The upcoming meetings serve regional and global purposes such as economic cooperation and common prosperity, which need efficient global leadership.

The US should realize that its actions aimed at creating trouble for China are not in its interest either. And if the US has not realized the obvious by now, its European allies should take up the onus to make it see its mistake.

The author is China Daily chief correspondent in Brussels.

fujing@chinadaily.com.cn