Events

Diplomatic Pouch >> With Mike Peters

Hungary's minister of national development, Tamas Fellegi, wraps up a seven-day, four-city China trip this week, heading home after stops in Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Chongqing. Besides talking up trade he was eager to promote mutual investment, technology transfer and joint financing options for public projects including a revamp of the country's transit system.

One strategic partner is China Railway Construction Corp., which will not only supply high-speed trains but construction, signaling systems, infrastructure and related technology.

"We also want to learn from China's rapid economic expansion," he says, noting that his trip to Shenzhen would focus on how such economic centers can be developed.

It is a busy time for Hungary in China. On April 22 the embassy is hosting an outdoor dinner and film screening of Pusks - Hungary, featuring the country's legendary football star Ferenc Puskas, who also played for a US soccer club.

The embassy is also sponsoring a children's art contest with the European Union delegation, with a show of the winners planned for June 1.

Chinese President Hu Jintao recently announced the appointment of Lan Lijun as ambassador to Sweden, replacing Chen Mingming. Lan had previous been posted as China's ambassador to Canada.

At the end of March, Hu formally accepted the credentials of two new European ambassadors, Sylvie Bermann from France and Eugenio Bregolat-Obiols from Spain.

The number of Chinese students at Danish universities has increased by 43 percent in the last three years, Denmark's embassy in Beijing announced last week.

Chinese students made up 12 percent of the total number of foreign students that were granted a residence permits to study at Danish universities in 2010: 473 Chinese students received residence permits last year to study at a Danish university, the highest number than ever before.

"The opening of the Sino-Danish University Center in Beijing in 2013 will further strengthen the relationship between Denmark and China," says Danish Ambassador to China Friis Arne Petersen.

Denmark was recently ranked in the top three in a survey of English skills in countries where English is not the native language. The survey was carried out by Education First, an international language training company, and data was collected from 2 million people in 44 countries.

MG's first completely new model in 16 years, the 1.8-liter MG6, rolled off a UK production line this week. Partly produced in China, and designed and engineered in Britain, the new car shows how collaboration can lead to innovation, says British Ambassador to China, Sebastian Wood. "It also demonstrates the strength of the UK's growing trade and investment relationship with China."

"It's a good car, capable of competing with established makes and models in the same class," says Rod Ker, automotive columnist for London's Telegraph newspaper.

"The 6 somehow contrives to look larger and more imposing in real life than in photographs."

Embassy news can be sent to: mike.peters.cd@gmail.com.