One of our main activities is organising and hosting Luncheon Briefings on pertinent topics of EU-Asia relations. Beginning with an informal lunch, the Briefings usually last for 1.5 hours, including questions.

Attendees include EIAS members and other interested parties.

Experts wishing to discuss a possible topic for a Lucheon Briefing are invited to contact EIAS Direct Dr Willem van der Geest.

China’s Foreign Policy: An Exchange of Views
26 April, 2006 from 10:00 – 12:00

Speaker: Dr Ruan Zongze, Vice President, China Institute of International Studies, Beijing
Chair: Dr. Willem van der Geest, Director, European Institute for Asian Studies
Discussant: Mr. Stanley Crossick, Founding Chairman, European Policy Centre

Listen to the speaker being interviewed by Dr van der Geest (mp3)

As China continues its steady march towards economic development and prosperity, its role and responsibility as an influential player on the international stage has increased. Globalisation, growing interdependence, regional integration and new global challenges amongst others all affect China’s outward orientation and the formulation of its foreign policy.

The manner in which China chooses to pursue its external relations will have major economic, political and security implications for the world, generating both opportunities and challenges. Yet what are the underlying strategic interests and objectives behind said policy?

The European Institute for Asian Studies is honoured to welcome Dr Ruan Zongze to its premises for an exchange of views on the current status of Chinese foreign policy – the evolution, the rationale, the implications and consequences thereof.

Following this, members of the audience participated in a Q&A session for an exchange of views on current issues and scenarios relating to China’s foreign policy and their implications for the future of relations between China, East Asia, the EU and the rest of the world.

Dr Ruan Zongze is Vice President of CIIS, the Chinese Foreign Ministry think-tank, senior fellow, and member of China-Russia Friendship, Peace and Development Committee. He holds a B.A. in English literature from Sichuan Institute of Foreign Languages, a second B.A. in International politics from Renmin University of China and a PhD in international relations from China Foreign Affairs University.

He was a visiting scholar in the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London in the UK from 1992 to 1993. From 1996 to 2000, he served as second and first secretary in the Political Department of the Chinese Embassy in the UK. Before assuming his current position within the CIIS, he was Director of the Division of International Politics.

Listen to the speaker being interviewed by Dr van der Geest (mp3)