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 Policy Competencies in New EU Member States
Thursday, 4 May, 2006 from 13h00 – 14h30

Speaker: H.E. Mr. Ksawery Burski, Former Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Poland, Beijing
Chair: Dr. Willem van der Geest, Director, European Institute for Asian Studies

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

The European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) is honoured to welcome H.E. Ambassador Ksawery Burski to its premises to examine China policy competencies in new EU Member States. To what extent are their policies and strategies convergent with those of the EU-15? Will their links with China and Russia contribute new dimensions to the EU’s partnership with China?

Ambassador Burski joined the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1961, having graduated from the Institute of International Relations in Beijing, completed a Chinese Language course at Beijing University, and finished his postgraduate studies at the Central School of Planning and Statistics, Warsaw. He has served in diplomatic and consular service in Beijing, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and acted as Adviser to the Minister (1989-1991). From 1989-1991, he held the position of Lecturer at the Institute of Oriental Studies of Warsaw University, before becoming Counsellor-Minister Plenipotentiary at the Polish Embassy in Beijing (1991-1994). Prior to his posting in Beijing, he served as Ambassador in Jakarta (1995-1999) and in Singapore (1998-1999).

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