On 22 June, the first summit took place between the new EU leadership team, headed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Charles Michel, and China’s President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, but there was little time for small talk. One official remarked, ‘the gloves were off from the start’ with no attempt to secure a traditional joint statement, let alone a joint press conference. The EU side accepted that EU–China relations ‘were crucial in many areas’ but at the same time stated that ‘we have to recognise that we do not share the same values, political systems, or approach to multilateralism’. The Chinese side appeared surprised at these blunt words but they stemmed from the March 2019 EU policy document which stated that China was a ‘systemic rival’ in certain areas. By Fraser Cameron. East Asia Forum.
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Results for European Commission
Tuesday 13 March 2018
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The European Commission today announced that it will be contributing €300 000 ($790,860 Pa’anga) in humanitarian funding to assist Tongans in their recovery from Cyclone Gita. The EU declared that the aid would focus on “…addressing the most pressing needs of the affected families through the provision of emergency shelter, access to safe drinking water, and food and livelihood assistance.”
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Monday 12 September 2016
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Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia
The interests of Pacific Members must be at the heart of discussions when looking at how they could influence an effective future engagement through the ACP with the EU, said Dame Meg Taylor, the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, at a Pacific Forum Secretariat meeting on 8 September 2016 in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.
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Wednesday 13 June 2012
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Port Vila, Vanuatu
The Pacific States of ACP strongly voiced frustrations over an apparent lack of commitment by the European Union to conclude comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements for a free trade area with the Pacific region, during the 95th Session of the ACP Council of Ministers Meeting on June 12. By Linny Folau in Port Vila.
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Mr Frans Baan, the new head of the European Commission, visited Tonga for the first time in March. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.
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