Guest speech: Ambassador of China, H.E. TANG Guoqiang

As a continuation of our (UN) ambassador series and at the occasion of the forthcoming Summer Olympic Games, the IMC Export Department, under the auspices of the Chair for International Law and Global Political Studies, was inviting the Chief of the China’s Mission to the UN Vienna and IAEA, Ambassador TANG Guoqiang for a visit and guest lecture on 28th May 2008. The Ambassador gave an excellent overview on the currents in the China’s Foreign, Security and Energy Policy, as well as the China’s positions in major Vienna-based UN entities (such as IAEA, ODC, UNCITRAL, OOSA, CTBTO, UNIDO, Wassenaar Arrangement, etc.). His presentation was followed by long discussions with students and professors, and by a garden-cocktail reception.

Ambassador TANG’s remarks offered the IMC Export Fellows a unique opportunity to gain insights into the China’s diplomatic initiatives in Asia (APEC and ASEAN), security and energy policy, and overall political and economic dynamics of the country, including the Tibet issue and the forthcoming Beijing Olympic games (including the presentation of official Games mascots).
Answering the students’ questions, H.E. Tang shared the China’s policy views on issues like: China’s policy and presence in Africa/Sudan, 6-party talks history and positions towards the North Korea, Sino-Russian relations (including the first state visit of the new Russian president Medvedev), dual-use technology and non-proliferation Intl regimes, ITER project, humanitarian assistance to Burma and finally China as the studying and working destination.

An exceptionally kind and eloquent top diplomat, Ambassador Tang has joined the respective China’s Foreign Ministry mid ‘970s, and was posted to Geneva (UN), Papua New Guinea, United Kingdom and Hong-Kong. H.E. obtained several important in-house posts among which was the Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Ministry’s Information Department (mid-late ‘990s). The first ambassadorial post was taking H.E. Tang to the Check republic capital of Prague.
Since 2006, Mr. Tang is the Permanent Representative and Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the UN and other IOs in Vienna.

Native of Shanghai, H.E. holds the high graduate and post-graduate degrees from prestigious Chinese (Fudan) and British (London School of Economics) universities.

Summing up after the half-day visit to Krems (the Ambassador was accompanied by two mission diplomats, Ms. Wang and Mr. Zhu), content-intensive speech to and talks with fellow students and professors, with Mr. Ernst Fietz , the EXPORT Program Director, and Mr. Anis H. Bajrektarevic, Export Chair and principal host of the event, Ambassador Tang stated that he has been very impressed by our faculty’s interest in the Sino affairs. The Ambassador also complimented the commitment and knowledge of our students as demonstrated in the questions and discussion with him (including the command of Chinese language of our fellows).
Ambassador finally expressed his willingness to welcome the Export fellows in his Mission as well as to return to our university soon again.


This visit represented the closing event of the summer semester with our next event being scheduled for an early fall semester.
At the occasion of the recent state visit of President Fischer and the Austrian trade delegation to Turkey we will host H.E. Selim YENEL
(to be followed by visits of Indonesian, Ukrainian and Venezuelan ambassadors).
(Baroque Hall, 10.00-11.30).

Photos: Hermann Maglock
Text: Prof. Dr. Anis Bajrektarevic

Guest speech: French Ambassador to the UN, H.E. Mr. François-Xavier Deniau

As a continuation of our (UN) ambassador series and at the occasion of the forthcoming French EU Presidency, the IMC Export Department, under the auspices of the Chair for International Law and Global Political Studies, was inviting the Chief of the French Mission to the UN Vienna and IAEA, Ambassador François-Xavier DENIAU for a visit and guest lecture on 13th May 2008. Addressing the faculty members, fellow students and professor bilingually in French and English, the Ambassador gave an excellent overview on the currents in the French Foreign, Security and Energy Policy, as well as the French positions in major Vienna-based UN entities (such as IAEA, ODC, UNCITRAL, OOSA, CTBTO, UNIDO, Wassenaar Arrangement, etc.). His presentation was followed by long discussions with students and professors, and by a garden-cocktail reception to mark the jubileum of 50 international events organized by Prof. Bajrektarevic for the IMC Export Department.

Ambassador Deniau’s remarks offered the IMC Export Fellows a unique opportunity to gain insights into the new French diplomatic initiatives, security and energy policy, and overall political dynamics of the country, concluding his speech by stating that: “Our (French) multilateral policy aims (are) to contribute to the regulation of the Globalisation”, (like) “the (French writer) Jules Verne (hundred years ago) challenging two types of limits: the geographical borders and the scientific limits”.

Answering the students’ questions, H.E. Deniau shared the French policy views on issues like: Middle East, nuclear issue of Iran, Barcelona process, dual-use technology and non-proliferation Intl regimes, recent launch of Galileo navigation system, Arianne Espace, ITER project, French role and position in the NATO security structure (including the French troops deployments), third and forth generation of Nuclear reactors, assistance to developing countries (through EU and UN FORA), environmental considerations in formulation of energy policy of France/EU, EU/French relations with China, good governance, and the issues of cultural diversity including the respect for multilingualism (preservation and promotion of French language).

An extraordinarily open personality and top diplomat, Ambassador Deniau built up a reputable career working for the Ministry of Economy and Finance (late 1970s), and the French Foreign Ministry since 1981, being posted in Rome, Brussels, Tunis and Santo Domingo, and obtaining several important in-house posts among which was the Deputy Director of the Minister’s Cabinet (late 1990s).
Before coming to Vienna in September 2005, Mr. Deniau served as Director for Strategy at the France’s Ministry of Defence.

H.E. holds the high graduate and post-graduate degrees from the most prestigious French schools: the Ecole Polytechnique and Ecole Nationale d’Administration.

Summing up after the half-day visit to Krems (the Ambassador’s wife accompanied him along with the senior Mission’s diplomat Ms. Genevieve Van-Rossum), content-intensive speech to and talks with fellow students and professors, with Ms. Eva Werner, IMC Vice-Rector, Mr. Max Schachner, Int’l Department, Mr. Ernst Fietz , the EXPORT Program Director, and Mr. Anis H. Bajrektarevic, Export Chair and principal host of the event, Ambassador Deniau stated that he has been very impressed by our faculty’s interest in the French affairs. The Ambassador also complimented the commitment and knowledge of our students as demonstrated in the questions and discussion with him (including the command of French language of our fellows). Congratulating personally to Prof. Bajrektarevic for having organized 50 international events for the IMC Export students, Ambassador finally expressed his willingness to welcome the Export fellows in his Mission as well as to return to our university soon again.

Guest lecture of Ambassador Deniau was the second bilingual event (the first one was the guest lecture of Spanish ambassador de Boado on February 26 last year, held in Spanish and English), out of 51 organized under the auspices of the Chair for Intl Law and Global Political Studies.

Our next (and concluding one for this semester) event is also from the Ambassador series category; on 28th May we will host H.E. TANG Guoqiang, China’s Ambassador.
(Baroque Hall, 10.00-11.30).

Photos: Marketing & Hermann Maglock
Text: Prof. Dr. Anis Bajrektarevic

The presentation of H.E. François-Xavier Deniau can be found here.