newsitems

*Brussels/EU-China Summit/Angelo Marcopolo/-"Combine" strategic Investment Plans with Synergy, and Boost Science, Education and Technology cooperation, Advancing with concrete programs in a vast area going from Legal Affairs, up to Earth observation and Natural Environment protection, (etc), seems to be a main characteristic of the 2015 EU - China Summit's decisions, Today in Brussels, according to a Press Conference of Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, together with the new Presidents of EU Council, Donald Tusk, and of EU Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, both former Prime Ministers, respectively, of Poland and Luxembourg, further corroborated, later-on, by the Official Joint-Statement published at the Conclusion of a Leaders' meeting, followed by a Plenary Session, a Signature ceremony, and an important Working Diner on various key and Topical issues, (Comp. Also other "EuroFora"s NewsReports on this Multifacet Summit, f.ex., at : .......).

    Opening that Top Meeting in Brussels, almost at the eve of Beijing's forthcoming rotating Chairmanship of the "G20" Heads of State/Governments' Summit, Next Year (2016), President Tusk - observed from the outset, speaking, earlier this Afternoon, to Journalists present here, including "EuroFora", that this is "the 1st (ever) Press Conference of an EU - China Summit in Brussels !".

 (By a coincidence, it also fulfilled a wish expressed earlier by "EuroFora" to an experienced EU Council Press Service's Agent, for an EU - China Press point to be hopefully held, as a crucial moment for our Decision to stay, or not, in Brussels 3 Days after the latest EU Summit : He had, then, strongly supported the view that such an interactive meeting with the Press should and would be, indeed, held now, according to his opinion too, and this had finaly become True !)...
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    At this 40th Anniversary of EU - China Diplomatic Relations (1975-2015), it's important both to "Deepen practical Cooperation", and to "Find New Points to make Breakthroughs", stressed from the outset, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, speaking to Journalists in Brussels, including "EuroFora".

    A "1st" point is to "Keep the Strategic Direction, for Long-Term and Stable Development of EU - China relations, and Continue along converged Interests, ... jointly advocate Peace, Development, Openess, Inclusiveness, and a Win-Win Cooperation". While also, concerning "Future Developments", we are "convinced that there are not only in a Long-term, Stable and Sound Development, but additional "New Levels" to be attained, he optimisticaly and voluntarily pointed out.

    >>> In fact, it's also "Important to Open a NEW HORIZON of practical Cooperation, which can be "centered on the EU - proposed Strategic Investment Plan" of President Juncker, Li observed, evoking some "in Depth Discussions" between EU and China in 2015 on that purpose :

    - The Chinese side is of the view that it's not only about "Sale and Buy" (i.e. Traditional Trade), but we should also expand now "Mutual Investments", even "Joint Investment", as he explained.

    This could be done "in Multiple Ways" : "F.ex. by Estabishiung an EU - China Joint Investment Fund, as well as some Internatinal Platforms for Research and

Development, (etc), in order also to ensure that the EU 315 € Billions Plan, drafted by President Juncker, can have Resources, and can be Implemented, Li suggested.

    In this regard, "the Chinese side made Proposals for a Global Cooperation with the EU, encompassing also the Production Capacities  : F.ex. to use the Chinese Capacity of Production, of a Meadow Level, by Combining that with EU's High-Tech. know-how, for the Needs of Developing, 3rd Countries, as he described it.

    It's "in this connection" that "Specific Discussions, on this point, will be carried out", the Chinese Prime Minister revealed.

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    + But, precisely, in order to "Accelerate Dialogue, Exchange and Cooperation" in "Many Areas", "We (EU and China) are also going to Establish a "Legal affairs" dialogue Mechanism, so that we can have More Understanding and Knowledge of each other", Li also Anounced.

    This is added from 2015 to "Personal Exchanges"' facilitation, and to the "Promotion of Global Public Goods", such as "Peace and Stability", Climate Change protection, etc., anod various other Areas where "this (2015) EU Summit can serve as a New Starting point", in order "both to Excel, Transcend and Open up NEW CHANNELS for EU - China ns", he concluded energeticaly.

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    - "China is EU's most Important Partner", particularly in Economy, acknoledhed from the outset new EU Council's President Donald Tusk, seing a "Stronger Relationship" in 2015, with "Investment" cited as No 1 among "our agreed Priorities" in a "Strengthened Agenda which frames our relations", as he said, focusing, for the rest, mainly on EU - China "Common Strategic Interests" for a "Common" stance "on some Global Challenges that we have to Face Together", (Comp. also : .....).

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    - Declaring himself clearly "in favour of having Better Connections between China and Europe in all aspects", New EU Commission's President, Jean-Claude Juncker, also placed "Investments" at the "1st" place :

    - "We Agreed that China and EU could now Bring Together Know-How, Resources, and other Strength, to make sure that they Both Succeed", he Anounced.

    - "As a 1st Step, a Connectivity Platform .... will allow us to COMBINE FORCES, Unite Expetrise and Strength of our Compagnies, to develop .. Infrastructures, Jobs in Europe and China, and Bridges between our Continents along the old "Silk Road"", Juncker highlighted in this regard.

     - In particular, "on EU side, we have the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), where of course China is Welcome to Invest", he ensured at least.

    => + Morever, EU Commission's "Vice-President (for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness) Katainen will Visit Beijing about the End of September (2015), and more Detailed Negotiations will take place when the vP. will be in China" on this Key issue, Juncker anounced.

    - Meanwhile, "it's not the Time now to discuss Technical Details", because "they 'll be discussed when the vP. will be in China", he simply replied to a Collegue's Question on the particular "Areas" in which EU is more Interested, (apparently leaving Room to Negotiations, protected by Discrete moves)...

    ++ However, on the Chinese side, there must be another playing field for EU Investors", he wished : "We have roughly Begun Working on this, and we must continue our Negotiations for a Compregensive Agreemet on Investment", EU Commission's President pointed out on practical conditions.

    >>> At any case, "on ..more Far-Reaching" questions "in the next 10 Years.. I'd like to see China and the EU Moving Closer Together", because "We have to Share Ambitions for the World", President Juncker concluded later-on.

    - "This will be done in the Various Areas of our Cooperation", he simplified in fine, indirzectly but surely pointing at the 2 very Comprehensive Files published later Today, at the Conclusion of the EU - China Summit, both in an Official, common "Joint Statement", as well as an EU Commission's Syntheris :

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    Indeed, right at the 1st rank among "Priorities" which were "Agreed at this Summit" in order to "reinforce their bilateral Cooperation and enhance the Global dimension of their Strategic Partnership", EU and China placed on 2015 mainly "Investment" issues, as reveals Brussels Summit's "Joint Statement" :
    
    - "Both sides confirmed their Strong Interest in each other's flagship Initiatives, namely the Investment Plan for Europe (drafted by President Juncker), and the “Silk Road Economic Belt” and “21st Century Maritime Silk Road” (The "Belt and Road" Initiative", to which referred earlier Prime Minister Li : Comp. Supra), that Official Text anounced.
    
    - In particular, EU and China "Leaders Decided to support Synergies between these initiatives" , and directed the EU-China High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue in September to "develop Practical Avenues  for ....Co-operation, (mainly during the "September" 2015 "EU-China High Level Economic and Trade Dialogue",  including through "a possible China-EU Co-Investment vehicle", (as Prime Minister Li had suggested earlier : Com^p. Supra).
    
    => In this Framework, f.ex., "EU and China Agreed to improve their Infrastructure Links", particularly by "Establishing a new Connectivity Platform", to "promote seamless Traffic flows and Transport Facilitation", with "Synergies between their relevant initiatives" (Comp. Supra), "Co-operation opportunities between their ...sources of Funding", and "a favourable environment for ...Cross-Border infrastructure Networks in countries and regions between the EU and China",
while also "looking forward to (EU) Cooperation with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)", which has just been agreed, with the support also of the EU.

    That's one reason more for which "EU and China view the ongoing investment Agreement Negotiations as one of the most Important issues", because it "shall include Investment Protection, Market Access and other elements Facilitating Investment". Therefore, "efforts must be Intensified" for "a joint Text by the End of 2015", the Conclusion of which, will allow "to envisage Broader Ambitions, including ... a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), at a "longer term", the Summit's conclusions add.

    - "Trade between China and the EU is worth more than €1 Billion every Day. Today, we form the Second-largest economic cooperation in the World. Bilateral trade in goods reached € 467.2 billion in 2014", pointed out EU Commission in a parallel Press Release on the Summit.

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+ Research and Innovation
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    + Most Important, in this  Context, EU and China also "Agreed ro Set up a Mechanism for Joint Financing (Scientific/Technological) Research and Innovation Projects, in Areas of Mutual Interest", as well as to "promote ... Access to the EU and China's respective Research and Innovation Funding programs", (as "Horizon 2020" for the EU), anounces the Official Joint Statement published Today in Brussels.

    ++ Moreover, the two sides also "Agreed to work together to Harness each other’s comparative Advantages in such areas as Innovation policy, Mobility and Training of Researchers, Commercialisation of R&D results, Technology Dissemination and Sharing of Research Facilities and ..conditions for innovation".
    
    This was done after a "High Level Innovation Cooperation Dialogue, held in the Margins of the Summit", earlier Today in Brussels, where Political "Leaders reaffirmed the importance of cooperation in . .. Research and Innovation, as a Driver for economic and social development, and a Key element of EU-China relations".

    The moves were coordinated by EU Commissioner for Science, Reearch and Innovation, Carlos Moedas (from Spain), and Chinese Minister for Science and Technology, Can Gang, who also Signed an Agreement to Facilitate Young Chinese Scientists, supported by the Country's National Foundation for Natural Sciences (NSFC), to join projects Funded by the European Research Council (ERC), and vice versa, with the First Exchanges expected between Autumn 2015 and Summer 2016, according to EU Commission's data. (Until now, similar Agreements existed only between the EU and USA, Argentina, Japan and South Korea).

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    >>> Even more Important, potentialy, a New arrangement for Collaborative Research, between EU Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute for Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, (CAS-RADI), concluded Today in Brussels, is expected to Boost EU - China Cooperation on addressing Global Challenges in areas of recently growing importance, such as f.ex., Climate action, Disaster Risk Reduction, Natural Environment Protection and sustainable development, etc.

    China is World famous for having actively promoted UNO's International Treaty against any "Hostile Modification of Natural Environment, such as f.ex. EarthQuakes, Heatwaves, Floods, etc (ENMOD), which was adôpted and entered into force shortly after the End of Vietnam War, in the Second Half of the 1970ies, and has also made several Spectacular Attempts to Positively Modify the Environment, f.ex. by reportedly succeeding to Divert Rain away from the 2008 Olympic Games' stadium Opening Ceremony at Beijing...
    
    But, particularly since the exceptionaly Deadly, Giant 2003 Heatwave which killed more than 30.000 People in France, etc., and even Threatened the Energy Autonomy of the Country, by seriously Diminishing Rivers' Water flows necessary for French Nuclear Reactors' Power Plants, as well as the 2010 unprecedented Killer Heatwave and Fires which badly hit Russia and Kazakstan's most important Central Areas (Moscow included), added to a long Series of Giant Killer Mudslides in China, Floods in Germany, and/or the 2005 "Katrina" Harricane which Devastated Luisiana in the USA (etc), together with the 2004 Deadly Tsunami between Sumatra and India, the 2011 Haiti Destructive Earthquake, and Japan's 2013 "Fukusima" Nuclear Plant crash by another unprecedented Giant Tsunami at the Pacific Ocean, which notoriously had a very Important Impact also against Nuclear Energy policies in Germany, Italy and other EU Countries, (etc), such so-called "Extreme Weather Events" (EWE) have been Recently Growing throughout the whole World, both in Intensity and in Frequency, as well as in the Volume of Destructions and Deaths provoked.
    
    For all these reasons, the Need for reliable International Cooperation, as between EU and China, in Scientific Research and Technology allowing to prevent, predict,  face and alleviate or repair such Natural/Man-made Disasters' impact on Human beings and whole Societies, has become obvious Today. As for the fact that the Chinese Government is fully Aware of the crucial Importance it has to efficiently and timely develop such an International Cooperation on the Protection of Natural Environment, and Willing to do so, this was Confirmed, inter alia, also by the crystal clear Replies of a China's Foreign Ministry Spokesman to relevant "EuroFora"s Questions at the end of a Press Conference organized during the 2011 "G20" Heads of State/Government Summit in Cannes, (Comp., f.ex. : ...).

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    Similar moves extend also to "the Deepening of the EU-China Urbanisation Partnership", .. in urban Planning and design, public Services, "Green" Buildings and "Smart" Transportation". In this regard, they "Agreed to launch new Joint Programmes involving Chinese and EU Cities and Companies", but also "dialogue on Regional Policies,....Expanding the scope of Regions, ...Twinning", etc.  F.ex.,  - "Brussels is a Green City also by its Traditional "Green areas" located at the Heart of almost every Block of Buildings, with several Big Trees, etc, observed on this occasion an EU Officer to "EuroFora", (who has, indeed, had several occasions, during many Years of Visits at EU Summits and/or other events here, inevitably staying at Various Hotels or Flats accross the City, that it has, indeeed, such an Original, Historic system of Trees regularly preserved at Building Blocks' central areas, helping to provide Oxygen, shade and Fresh Air to the Inhabitants, in a so Simple way....

    In this regard, another Joint Statement on "Deepening EU - China Regional Policy Cooperation", was also Signed on the sidelines of this 2015 Summit, which is Focusing on "Innovation and Urban Development, with Direct Exchanges between Regions and Cities" from both sides, according to an EU Commission's Press Release.

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+=> Comparative LAW
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-
    + Last, but not least, such envisaged extensions and deepening of manifold EU - China Cooperations (Comp. Supra), inevitably make it "Necessary to (also) deepen Understanding of each other's Legal Systems", so that, this 2015 Summit "Agreed to establish an EU - China  Legal affairs Dialogue, for Policy Exchanges, mutual Learning, and Cooperation in Legal" questions, Today'"s "Joint Statement" adds, as far as Comparative Law Studies are concerned, which apparently promisse to be quite Interesting.

(.../...)

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("DraftNews", as already send, earlier, to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version, might be Published asap).

***

*Brussels/EU-China Summit/Angelo Marcopolo/- In perhaps one of the most Crucial Geo-Political Inter-Continental Summits of our times, given an Exceptional and Fast-evolving Context with Unprecedented Challenges, both in Economy (Greece/€urozone and other Inequalities in Global Growth), Climate Change (amidst Record Heatwaves/EarthQuakes, etc), and  ISIL's particularly Inhuman Deadly Terrorism spreading in areas between, European and Chinese Political Leaders, meeting Today in Brussels, 40 Years since the establishment of EU - China Diplomatic Relations (1975-2015), Discussed and Agreed, in particular, to Boost Cooperation into Fighting Extremist Islamic Terrorism, (as that of ISIL's atrocious BeHeaders even of defenseless Civilian People), according to Converging, well informed EU and China sources, speaking to "EuroFora" :

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    Both Chinese Diplomatic and EU sources told "EuroFora" that the Topical Global Issue of Fighting to eradicate Religious-Motivated Extremist Islamic Terrorism as ISIL's atrocious BeHeaders who notoriously  Murder Cowardly many Civilian People, would certainly be Discussed particularly during the Foreign and Security Policy Talks around Tonight's Working Diner.

    Afterwards, new EU Council President Turk's Press Spokesman, Preben Aamann , confirmed to "EuroFora" that this had, indeed, been done and "is reflected" even a the Official Text of the Full Joint Communiqué that the EU - China Summit just Published here, (See Infra).

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    Already, EU Council's previous Comuniqué on Today's EU - China Summit had Warned, from the outset, that, during the Brussels' Top Meeting, "Leaders" were due, in particular,  to "review the implementation of the EU-China 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation, adopted at the last summit in 2013 (at Beijing), focusing on Peace and Security" First of all, and, in this framework, "EU and China should ...Agree to further Develop their Cooperation on Defence and Security", (as well as "stress their Commitment to ... Human Rights").

    The importance of this 2015 EU - China Summit is highlighted also by the fact that it was meant to "Set Priorities for for the EU-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the Years to come".  
    
    + Advancing well beyond Economic and Bilateral relations, EU - China Leaders' official Agenda extended also to "Global Challenges" and "Foreign Policy" issues, later ToNight, included, as far as "development of Cooperation on Defence and Security" is concerned, an already anounced Will, f.ex.,  to "Build on Success in Fighting Piracy in the Gulf of Aden" :
    
    I.e. facing mainly the Dangerous SeaCoasts of Somalia, where recently, in addition to various so-called "Pirates" notoriously aggressing mainly growing Oil/Gas Sea Ship Transports through the Suez Channel, surprisigly, Turkey has just established its Most Important relations in the African Continent, while Extremist Islamic Terrorists (close to ISIL) have just Attacked and Murdered many Christian University Students at Neighbouring Kenya, as EU Parliament strongly Denounced in a landmark Resolution against the "Persecution of Christians", adopted on Spring 2015 in Strasbourg's Plenary (Comp.:  ....). 

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EU Council Official :  - "We are All Concerned"
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    Speaking this Afternoon to "EuroFora", a well informed EU Council's Official was even more Explicit on the main point, about the current need to act against Deadly and Dezstructive Extremist Islamist Terrorists as "ISIL" :

    - "It will be part of the Working Diner Discussions, on Foreign and Security policy", he told us, in Reply to a relevant Question.

    => In fact, "the Focus will be on this Terrorism, because we (EU and China) are All Concerned, All possible Targets, and part of Possible Solutions", as he underlined.

     - And, f.ex., "if you see the Problems and the Reasons for which we (EU- China 2015 Summit in Brussels) Talk about Places in Foreign Policy, f.ex. on Syria, Iraq, Yemen, etc, you mention Syria or Iraq, but you are actualy talking about ISIS, in fact !"...

     - Indeed, "Big Themes, here, are the Threats that are a Challenge for All of us", (including, particularly, Religiously-motivated Terrorism, etc), he concluded.

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EU Council President Tusk :  "ACUTE CRISES + IRAQ - Global Challenges"

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    - Stressing earlier, during an Exceptional EU - China Press Conference here (Comp. f.ex. : .....), precisely the particular Importance of those Issues, EU Council's President, former Polish Prime Minister, Donald TUSK, pointed specialy at what he Named as : - "the Acute Crises in Syria, Libya and Yemen, as well as the situation in Iraq".

    These were added to "Foreign Policy" "Discussions" "over (this Evening's) Working Diner", at the Conclusion of this Brussels' EU - China Summit, President Tusk confirmed and specified in some more concrete detail, (as, f.ex., the List of Countries that he cited had obviously evolved even further since a previous anouncement, before the Top Meeting)...

    >>> More widely, - "We (EU and China) have some Global Challenges to face Together", Tusk stressed.

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    + Also Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, speaking on similar issues, to Journalists in Brussels, including "EuroFora", significantly underlined the "Will" for China and the EU Together, "to Promote (also) Global Public Goods", as he said :

    There might be "Found" some of those "New Points, to make Breakthroughs" in EU - China "Cooperation", as he had urged earlier.

    - Indeed, Today "the World Needs to have a Peaceful International ... and a Stable Regional Environment, for Development", Li observed.

    - But, "both EU and China are participants" and even "Leaders of the Post- War International Order", he reminded.

    => Therefore, particularly during "this Year" (2015) which "Marks the 70th Anniversary of the UN and since the 2nd World War Anti-Fascist Victory, (1945-2015), "We (EU and China) "must firmly Apply UN Charter Principles and purposes, and Promote World Peace and Stability", Li concluded,

    (inevitably including  the obvious Topical Need to face also the Rapidly Spreading Extremist Islamist Terrorism of ISIL's atrocious BeHeaders, even of defenseless Civilian People, which have a striking Similarity with some Violently Separatist Unghurs' Terrorist Groups which have been repeatedly reported to launch Attacks with Knifes, etc., even against innocent Passers by at the Streets)....

Meanwhile, Turkey, after several attempts to provoke and Exploit a so-called Unhgur issue, has begun to gather such a Population in its far away location, targeting mainy fertile Women and Young Childen, who can obviously be grown accordingly... The examples of former Istanbul Merchant, Bir Laden, the head of Al Quaida to which has been attributed the 9/11 Terrorist Massacre of Thousands of Simple People, and Now that of ISIL or other such Extremist Islamic Terrorists, atrocious BeHeaders notoriously Aggressing like Cowards defenseless Civilian People, having started from Turkey's Asiatic Borders, through which they continue to receive Arms, Money and Recruits, clearly indicates the Danger not only against EU and Russia, but also China, India, a.o.
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    + Later-on, EU Council Spokesman, Preben Aamann, speaking to "EuroFora" just after the Conclusion of EU - China Summit, confirmed, in Reply to a relevant Question, that, ideed, Religiously-Motivated Terrorism, as that of Extremist Islamic "ISIL"s atrocious BeHeaders, (that even UNO's SG Ban Ki Moon recently Urged, at a landmark Speech in EU Parliament in Brussels, urged the EU to Help Boost urgent International Action in order to Punish the perpetrators of so Horrible Crimes even against defenseless Civilians : See; f.ex. : ....), had been Discussed this Evening, and pointed, in this regard, at certain relevant Obserbvations made at the Official EU - China Summit's "Joint Statement", which had just been published here :

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EU - China Joint Statement : + "NEW AREAS"
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    - EU and China, indeed, "Agreed to Enhance their exchanges on Anti-Terrorism", both "at the Bilateral and Multilateral level", according to those Official Conclusions of the the 2015 Summit in Brussels.

    The New Moves, in fact, seem to go well Beyond a simple "reassertion" of  EU - China's "commitment" to "Consultations and Cooperation on Foreign and Security Policy, in the framework" of their "High Level Strategic Dialogue", f.ex. by "continuing Regular Exchanges on Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and Latin America", as that Joint Statement notes.

    + They include also a declared will "towards Reinforing EU - China cooperation in Combating TransNational Crime", regarding which, the 2015 Summit "Welcomes the Recent Contacts between EUROPOL and China's Ministry of Public Security", "as a Step" advancing in this Direction.

    >>> In fact, the most Important, potentialy, clearly seems to be the EU - China 2015 Summit Joint Statement's § 26, which Announces that They "Agreed to further Develop their cooperation on Defence and security", to "Build on their succesful Anti-Piracy" joint actions "in the Gulf of Aden", (i.e. facing mainly Somalia's Extremist Islamist Armed Gangs : Comp. Supra), as EU President Tusk had warned earlier Today.
    
    => Because this is due to "provide the Opportunity to Enhance Cooperation (also) in NEW AREAS of Common Interest", which, f.ex., "Include" also "Support for Peace and Security in Africa", etc., as Anounced further that Official Text.

    - For that purpose, they pointed, in particular, at "the Forthcoming Visit of the Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan) to Brussels", (apparently expected to play a Key role in regard of those "New Areas of Common Interest" for "Peace and Security", which can spread from Asia and the Middle-East up to Africa : Comp. Supra).

    Topically, Chang already started these Days a first series of visits in the European Continent, by participating at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defense Chiefs' gathering at Saint Petersburg, since Russia holds this Year (2015) the rotating Presidency of SCO, (Comp. relevant OSCE SG's statements to "EuroFora" during the latest OSCE Annual Summit in Basel, Switzerland, on December 2014 : .....), to be followed also by a visit to nearby Finland until July 2. According to Chinese sources, he's due to stress, there, in particular the current Need for Cooperation in order to Fight against Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism., (i.e. some obviously relevant and often interlinked  issues).  Such issues are expected to be further examined at the forthcoming SCO's Heads of State/Government's Summit, next week in Ufa (Russia), with Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jiping, together with Leaders also from Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, etc.

    Meanwhile, apparently engaged in a particularly active International Agenda recently, the Chinese Defense Minister has also met, earlier, with several among his Collegues in Countries, including, f.ex., Italy, Denmark, Finland, Russia, Belarus, South Korea, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Chile, (etc).

    China's belief that the need to improve International Security cooperation in order to Cope with New Global Challenges, implies to boost a fair and just International Ordr, particularly in SafeGuarding the Principles enshrined in UNO's Charter, so that all Nations cn Work Together for Regional and Global Security, Crisis' Control and Dispute Settling, based on Dialogue, mutual interests and by taking each other side's legitimate Concerns into consideration, has already been clearly underlined by Chang, earlier this year.

    - Indeed, Today's EU - China Sumit's joint statement significantly stresses "the Importance of  Building a stronger and more effective Multilateral System, based on the UN Charter and international Law, to face increasing Global Challenges", (as Chinese Prime Minister Li had evoked earlier during the Press Conference : Comp. Supra), while , at the same time, "both sides are committed to develop further their bilateral exchanges and cooperation on Peace and Security under the UN umbrella".

--------------
    + Last, but not least, General Chang Wanquan, who is also Member of China's State Council, is known for an extended Experience of both Armament and Space Programs, i.e. in strategic High-Tech. sectors which notoriously include f.ex. Earth Observation (a domain on which Today's EU - China Summit has just Signed a New Agreement : See ....), as well as Drones and Early Warning Systems' Technology, since long needed in order to eventualy develop an operational Autonomy of EU's own common Defense and Security Policy, (an issue just Dealt with by the latest Brussels' EU Summit here, a few Days ago, and due to be re-launched anew Next Year : 2016), etc.
 
+ In parallel, Today's EU - China Summit also "agreed to enhance Exchanges on Human Rights at the bilateral and international level, .......and confirmed their readiness to Cooperate under the UN human rights Mechanisms", (f.ex. World Council on HR, at nearby Geneva, etc). "The next round of their Human Rights Dialogue' will be held "in China on November (2015), when "the EU Special Representative for Human Rights (former MEP Lambrinides) is due to "Visit....China in the same month"

This should be done "on the Basis of Equality and Mutual Respect", the EU - China 2015 Summit's joint Statement stresses in this regard.

(.../...)

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***

("DraftNews", as already send, earlier, to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version, might be Published asap).

***

*Brussels/EU-China Summit/Angelo Marcopolo/- Speaking to Journalists in Brussels, including "EuroFora", in the 1st ever Press Conference of an EU - China Summit here, (as New EU Council President, former Polish Prime Miister, Donald Tusk, observed from the outset), "at a Critical Moment", mainly "because of the Greek Debt issue", as he observed, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang expressed Beijing's readiness to Help ensure a strong and inclusive European Unity by facilitating a Deal :

     - ''China is Ready to play a Constructive Role", Prime Minister Li anounced, in Reply to Press Questions about the Huge Debt provoked in Greece, obviously speaking from the point of view of Beijing's Geopolitical stance in favour of a MultiPolar World, which implies "a United", "Prosperous", and "Strong Europe", that "China would be Glad to see".

    - Indeed, "for Many Years, China has Supported the European Integration", because "this serves not only the Interests of Europe, but both of the EU, China and the World", he stressed from the outset, as a matter of Principle.

    - Therefore, "we (China) Hope that Greece would do well, and Hope to see a United EU", at the same time, "so that Both Greece and (all) Europe would Overcome the current Challenges and Crisis",

    => - "That's why China wants to see Greece stay in €uroZone", "and", at the same time, "we Urge relevant Creditors (EU, ECB and IMF) to broker  an Agreement with the Greek Government, at an early Time, and to make Progress in their Discussions", Prime Minister Li incited.

    - For that purpose, already, "China has laid its own Efforts to Help Greece overcome the Debt Crisis. And, for several Times, China has taken New Actions to Respond to the Concerns and Requests from the Greek  Government", he noted in this regard.

    - Naturaly, "the issue of Greek Debt, in principle, it's an Internal affair of Europe", he acknowledged carefuly.

    - But, "having said that, whether Greece will Stay within the €uroArea, is not only a Question that concerns Europe, but also concerns China and EU (relations)". Because "China is now one of the Biggest Trading Partners of Europe, and is also a Long Term and Stable holder of €uro" currency, Li observed.

    +"In addition, it's also something which concerns even the World's Financial Stability and Economic Recovery", he further pointed out.

    =>  Therefore, "in this relation, we always think that China - Greece relationship is Connected with China-EU relations", i.e. "the Former is Part and parcel of the Latter", the Chinese Leader concluded, explaining Beijing's stance on this Topical matter.

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    - This is "the 1st (ever) Press Conference of an EU - China Summit in Brussels !", observed Today New EU Council's President, former Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk from the outset, speaking, earlier this Afternoon, to Journalists in Brussels, including "EuroFora". (By a coincidence, it also fulfilled a wish expressed earlier by "EuroFora" to an experienced EU Council Press Service's Agent, for an EU - China Press point to be hopefully held, as a crucial point for our Decision to stay, or not, in Brussels 3 Days after the latest EU Summit : He had, then, strongly supported the view that such an interactive meeting with the Press should and would be, indeed, held now, according to his opinion too, and this had finaly become True !)...

    + Meanwhile, EU Council's President, former Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, had earlier made, at his Introductory remarks, already "one Comment", "when it comes to Greece" :

    -Even if, as a matter of General Principle, "every Government has a Right to hold a Referendum", and, "therefore, we Respect the Greek decision, and it is not my role to interfere in Greek domestic politics", "However, one thing should be very Clear : If someone says that the government will have a Stronger negotiating position with the NO Vote, it is simply Not True". On the Contrary, "I am afraid that, with such a result on the referendum, there will be even Less Space for Negotiations", Tusk warned, concerning New Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' sudden Decision to put the latest Draft Proposal of the EU/ECB/IMF Institutions immediately on a "Yes" or "No" Vote inside the Country, after suspending Negotiations in Brussels at the eve of Tomorrow's (30 June 2015) Crucial Time Deadline for the service of the Debt, (Comp., f. ex., also : ......).

    As for EU Commission's President, Experienced former long-time Prime Minister of Luxembourg and €uroGroup Chairman, Jean-Claude Juncker, he prefered to simply refer to long Press Statements that he had done Earlier Today, at a Surprize Conference exclusively focused on the issue of that Huge Debt provoked in Greece only, without neiher repeating, nor adding anything more now, on occasion of the EU - China Summit's different context.

    To put it in a nutshell, Juncker had, in substance, confirmed, earlier this Morning, that, indeed, (as "EuroFora" had already pointed out,  Comp. f.ex. : ......), a Controversial "Early Retirement" scheme was at the focus of Disagreements, while, on the contrary, the latest EU/ECB/IMF Draft Proposals had "No Cuts of Salaries", Nor of Penions, etc., reminding that the EU Institutions eve had Refused certain Taxes, claiming that they Tried to avoid, as much as possible, too hard adverse effects on Poor People f.ex. at least in some controversial suggested VAT's augmentations, (whie also bringing "Hotel VAT" down to 13%, instead of 23% initialy, etc), as well as that, in the quest for "more Social Fairness", the proosed Package had "targetted Support to the most Vulnerable, F.ex. through a Guaranteed Minimum Income scheme", at the same time that it tried to ask "efforts .. Proportionate to the Income" of each one, (something apparently confirmed, at least as far as it concerns f.ex. a demand for controversial Early Retirements with Full Pensions and Bonus, etc. to Start immediately to be Restricted at least for the "Top 20%" of potenial Pensioners), and had also added a 35 € Billions program to boost Growth and Jobs in Real Economy, etc. On the contrary, the Greek Authorities should realy do More to Fight Corruption and "Vested Interests", (f.ex., those who oblige Greece to have the Most Expensive Energy prices in the EU, as he denounced, curiously ommitting now to explicitly touch upon the notorious Problem of the Excessive, Counter-productive and often Arbitrary Cashy-Job Holders and/or Political Lackeys, scandalously appointed at the Public Sector by Clientelist/Nepotist former Governments, mainly of PASOK+, since the early 1980s, whose DisProportioante Number compared tothe Country's GDP was part of the causes which provoked and perpetuated that Huge Debt)...

    He again regretted the fact that the New Government of Greece reportedly Stopped the Negotiations in Brussels, in substance, already "since Friday Evening", prefering, instead, to organise a Referendum this week on accepting, or refusing those Draft proposals, expressed Concerns about whether the Greek People had been Informed; or not about "all the Truth", and concluded by expressing his personal will to strive, up to the Last Minute, to ensure Greece's place inside €urozone and Keep the European Family United, as he said. For that purpose, as things stand Today, he was obliged to call upon the Greek People to Vote "Yes" in that controversial Referendum, at the same time that EU Commission remained still "Open" for Negotiations with Greece, which, however, obviously had, now, to be done very Quickly, (given, particularly, the well known fact of the 30 June 2015 Time Deadline in order for the EU Country to avoid Default in a series of due reimbursements, first to the IMF and afterwards to EU itself).

    Meanwhile, the new Authorities in Greece, reportedly complained, mainly, that the outgoing,  controversial €uroGroup's Chair, Dutch Finance Minister Dijsselbloem (SocialDemocrat/Labour) would have presented the latest EU/ECB/IMF Draft Proposals as a kind of "Ultimatum", asking to be adopted or rejected, at the latest, last Saturday, while they would contain several points apparently unacceptable to them, because considered f.ex. damaging to the Tourist Industry, as a Higher VAT for Catering businesses (later withdrawn by the EU+), and, particularly, an immediate Stop of Bonuses for  controversial Early Retirements at least for the "Top 20" Best Paid civil servants among Pension-Holders, as it results from the latest Letter of Prime Minister Tsipras, who called Voters to Reject those Draft Proposals, but promised to strive for a Better Deal with the EU/ECB/IMF immediately afterwards.
    

(.../...)

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("DraftNews", as already send, earlier, to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version, might be Published asap).

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*Brussels/€uroGroup/Angelo Marcopolo/- Too many Mysteries still surround on Saturday, even after €uroGroup's unofficial meeting Today in Brussels, both the real circonstances of Yesterday Evening's clash between the Institutions' (IMF, ECB, EUCommission) representatives and the new Greek Government, who called for a Referendum on a controversial Draft proposal for a Deal to the Debt issue :

- Despite almost every side's last minute assurances, Saturday Evening, that they all stand "Ready" for an eventualy modified Draft Deal, in the few time available, until Tuesday (included), when the Greek State risks to be declared "Default", unable to pay back its loans' service, as the current EU support Program will come to an End,

(as even €uroGroup's outgoing Head, Dijsselbloem has just said here at the end of his concluding Press Conference, and his main interlocutor, Greek Finance Minister Varufakis had just reportedly declared)...

nevertheless, obvious Questions about the Short Time available, and, even more important : Mutual Trust, particularly when many here criticize the new Government's reaction to "Stop Negotiations" and call a Referendum on "a Draft which was, meanwhile, modified", as well informed EU sources claim in Brussels, remain Open and Unanswered yet.

- As for the most Obvious Question : On which Issue of Substance occured a Clash Yesterday, in fact, curiously, nobody seems really able and willing to provide a crystal-clear reply, some claiming that, on the contrary, the two sides had almost succeeded to come Closer than ever, even in some among the reportedly most thorny issues...

- What will now happen to Greece and €urozone, naturaly remains a Fogy, Gray area, as  this is an Unprecedented event, while, it looks, however, certain that Greece doesn't automaticaly get out of €uroZone, and that €urozone has, in the meantime, considerably Strengthened, during these last years, (partly also "thanks" to the "Greek" and other cases),  its Toolkit of Measures to prevent any such kind of problem ever reapear in the foreseable Future.

As for what might happen to the Greek People, and what could Greek Citizens do, now, EU's experienced and well informed sources replied sharply to "EuroFora"s relevant Query :

Even if State's Agents and Public Sector's civil servants might, eventualy, continue to profit from 80% of the "Primary Budget Surplus", that former Antonis Samaras' Government and EU's "sustainable Reforms' austerity" notoriously managed to set up, nevertheless, as far as it concerns, at least, the Great Majority of the Population, thinks look Different :

 - "I'm so Sad about the Greek People, Today, as I was Happy when the Berlin Wall fell down !", back on 1989, (marking the total End of the Cold War era), spontaneously told us our interlocutor, appearing sincere...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUYzQaCCt2o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsKeDcAKXvA

Nevertheless, it's also a Paradox that those same EU Officials, (as well as Greek Finance >Minister Varufakis' reported late remarks Tonight, long after his 17.30 departure), clearly seem to still Expect or Hope that something might yet happen on Sunday, and change the situation for the Better, before Tuesday's Tight Deadline....
F.ex., perhaps,  if the Greek Parliament rejects that Referendum, and/or if.... , (while ECB's Governing Council is reportedly still consulting later Tonight by phone, preparing also for Monday), etc...

€uroGroup's and new Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tripras (accused here to haven't informed Negociators about the Referendum, that they reportedly learned "from Twitter !"),  not so "Magical Mystery Tour", (to paraphrase Beatles' famous Songs of the Sixties), seems really without a foreseable End...

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