Diplomatic Pouch: With Mike Peters

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is in China till Sept 2, her second visit this year. Nine federal departments and 13 Chinese ministries are participating in consultations in Beijing. Following the program in the capital, Merkel will travel to Tianjin.

French President Francois Holland told French diplomats, assembled at the Elysee Palace last week for the 20th Ambassadors Conference, that China is of major importance and not just economically.

"There is a huge potential and the state will play its full part in helping companies to act but also tell the Chinese that we always act on the basis of reciprocity, and particularly in relation to procurement," he said.

The British embassy in Beijing celebrated the upcoming Paralympics by hosting a lantern-lighting event with children from the local NGO China Dolls. The embassy reports that its staff and volunteers joined 15 disabled children and their parents to create lanterns and a large sign to wish Paralympians good luck for the London 2012 Games.

The embassy's new deputy head of mission, Andrew Key, welcomed the children and spoke of Britain's pride in hosting the biggest Paralympic Games. Sixty-four years ago, when the first disabled games were held at Stoke Mandeville in Britain, just 16 ex-servicemen took part. At London 2012, more than 4,000 athletes from 150 nations will be competing across 471 events.

China Dolls is an NGO established in 2007 that specializes in helping Chinese patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease).

What would a book fair be without Angry Birds? The Finnish pop-culture phenomenon will be part of the Beijing International Book Fair, which continues to Sept 2. The Danish Cultural Institute and the embassies of Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland organized a seminar, From Fairytales to Apps, eBooks and e-Learning, on Aug 30.

The Finnish representative at the seminar is Rovio, an entertainment media company, and the creator of the Angry Birds franchise. Rovio aims to develop its publishing activities in China and has already concluded an agreement with the People's Publishing House.

The Republic of Korea is the "country of honor" at this year's show.

Slovak Ambassador to China Frantisek Dlhopolcek will host a reception to celebrate the national day of the Slovak Republic at the embassy on Sept 5.

Romania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Titus Corlatean met Chinese Ambassador Huo Yuzhen to discuss how to deepen and diversify dialogue between the two countries. Also on the agenda are: economic cooperation, and major Chinese investment projects such as the building of the new coal-fired plant within the Rovinari Power Complex.

The Portuguese embassy in Beijing announced on its website that The Instituto Camoes (Portuguese Cultural Center) will open Portuguese language courses at elementary and intermediate levels in the beginning of September. These courses are open to students, professionals and other people who are interested in learning the language.

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

(China Daily 08/31/2012 page31)