Diplomatic Pouch: With Mike Peters

Departing Dutch Ambassador to China Rudolf Bekink and some members of his staff recently visited Wang Weimin, vice-chairman of the counselor's office of China's State Council. During the visit the ambassador received a guided tour at the former Dutch legation where the counselor's office is now situated. Bekink was pleased he had the opportunity to visit this historical building designed by Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers. The ambassador said he hopes his successors will also have the opportunity to meet with the counselor's office in this monumental building.

Also in July, the ambassador hosted more than 50 children representing the Young Cultural Ambassadors program at the Dutch embassy in Beijing. The students, ranging in age from 7 to 11 and from different schools around China, are visiting a series of embassies this summer to learn about various countries.

The children are finalists in a nationwide contest in which they were judged on things such as command of English, public speaking, music and other talents. In addition to learning about the functions of the embassy and typically Dutch things, two talented ambassadors "contributed a poem and sang a beautiful Chinese song about Beijing", the embassy said.

A delegation of China's top entrepreneurs flew to the UK this week at the invitation of the Prime Minister David Cameron to participate in a week-long business program organized by UK Trade & Investment. The British Ambassador Sebastian Wood hosted a send-off for the group with Liu Chuanzhi, chairman of the China Entrepreneur Club and founder of Lenovo Group.

More than 30 of China's most influential business leaders, including Charles Chao of Sina Corporation, Guo Guangchang of Fosun Group, Wang Shi of China Vanke and Ma Weihua of China Merchants Bank, will also experience some of the excitement of London 2012 as the Olympic Games get underway.

"During the Games," Wood said, "the British Business Embassy in London will be home to the UK's international business activity where international firms can tap into UK expertise, source UK products and services and seek partnership opportunities across a range of sectors."

Earlier in July, a soccer match was hosted by the British consulate general in Chongqing in anticipation of the London Olympic Games.

The match, at Sichuan International Studies University, pitted a local team from the Sincere Real Estate Community, a Chongqing company, against the Chongqing International Football Club, composed of expatriates including players from the UK, Australia, Denmark, France, Ghana, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates and the US.

Xiong Yu, Chongqing's official London Olympic torchbearer and the event's guest of honor, kicked off the match and also brought his torch to show the fans and players.

Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos hosted Chinese ambassador Du Qiwen this month for a meeting on bilateral cooperation, with an emphasis on the potential in the sectors of economy, commerce, investment and tourism. The Greek embassy in Beijing said the Chinese envoy conveyed an invitation to Avramopoulos to visit Beijing and stressed that Greece is one of China's strategic partners in the European Union.

Send embassy and consulate news to michaelpeters@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 07/27/2012 page31)