With comparative analyses of such indicators as scientific co-publications，the business R&D expenditure in manufacturing by foreign-owned firms in each country，the participation in the EU’s FP7 and Joint Research Centre，the inter-governmental agreements on S&T cooperation，and the mobility of research students and scientists，results of the study indicate that the dominant research and innovation cooperation is still between the United States and the European Union. Their cooperative activities are far more closely than those between China and the EU. S&T and innovation cooperation between China and the EU is characterized as Top-down，while both Top-down and Bottom-up characterize the cooperation between the USA and the EU. Concerned the cooperation in the emerging industries，China and the EU work together in the fields of supporting technology and R&D of products，while the USA and the EU tend to cooperate in setting up rules of standards and measurements in emerging technologies like electric vehicles and smart grids，which lead to an earlier competence in the future industries of great importance to the economy. Results from this comparative study suggest the emphases that our government should put when making up public policies and strategies of involving China in international S&T research and innovation cooperation.