Probably the biggest distance to meet with the European Air Transport Command (EATC) made this Friday a group of sixteen Chinese senior officers, being originally part of an EUMS seminar at Brussels.
Welcomed by the Deputy Commander of the EATC, German Brigadier General Jörg Lebert, the visitor group around Major General Weiguo Wang first got a briefing by French Lieutenant-Colonel Francois Monard, describing the EATCs policy and achievements so far.
After a buffet lunch that was sponsored by the EATC and hosted by the Base Commander of the Eindhoven Air Base, Dutch Colonel Bas Pellemans, the visitors used the opportunity to have a closer look at the EATC assigned Dutch transport aircrafts right from the spot. The Chinese Army-, Air Force- and even Navy-delegation got a closer view inside the C-130 Hercules cargo bay and an additional introduction inside the KDC-10 tankers refuelling system.
Under the seminar-lead by Polish Commander Bogdan Dziuba/EUMS the guests from far east therewith got a practical view of what they have noticed so far in theoretical lessons while at Brussels.
The Crisis Management and Planning Directorate (CMPD) and the EU Military Staff (EUMS) had organized this first CSDP Orientation Seminar in the framework of the European Security and Defence College (ESDC).
This training activity under the umbrella of the European Security and Defence College aims at familiarising participants with main principles and guidelines of the EU's operational engagement, thereby contributing to a better understanding of EU's Common and Security and Defence Policy - within the context of EU external action.
The CSDP Orientation Seminar shall have a focus on EU‐China relations and will include the participation of a larger group of Chinese officials as well as senior military personell.
Text and picture by Norbert Thomas