Diplomatic Pouch: With Mike Peters

To celebrate National Tree-Planting Day, EU Ambassador to China Markus Ederer planted a new tree in the delegation garden last week. Ederer said he wanted to "encourage others to take some action, even as simple as planting a tree or cycling to work or turning off a light. Only when each one of us takes responsibility for climate change and changes our behavior can we ensure that we pass on this wonderful planet we call home to future generations".

Irish ambassador Declan Kelleher hosts friends of the Irish embassy for a pre-St. Patrick's Day reception on March 15. Many of the revelers will be starting a long weekend of celebration: The Irish Ball is Saturday night, and "Saint Paddy's Day" itself is Sunday March 17.

A delegation of 10 prominent Norwegian architects will be visiting China through March 22, traveling to Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. The visit combines cultural exchange with a search for business opportunities in China.

Promoting Norwegian architecture in China is a cross-country initiative with long-term goals, involving all three foreign missions and led by the Norwegian consulate general in Guangzhou, the embassy said. The architects will present multiple seminars and exhibitions as well as visiting leading real estate companies in the various cities.

The visit to China reciprocates a visit last fall, when a group of Chinese architects and real estate developers visited Norway.

Chinese leader Hu Jintao exchanged congratulatory messages with King Juan Carlos I of Spain on March 9 to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

In his message, Hu noted that a comprehensive strategic partnership, established in 2005, had strengthened cooperation in various areas and that he hoped both sides would work to push for new development, pragmatic cooperation and expanding cultural exchanges. Meanwhile, the Spanish king extended his wishes of peace and happiness to China, the foreign ministry said in Beijing, and said he believed the two peoples and cultures would become even closer in the future.

Hungary's ambassador Sandor Kusai hosted a reception to celebrate his country's national day at the embassy last week.

On the 102nd International Women's Day on March 8, British Ambassador Sebastian Wood hosted the British Embassy's annual reception bringing together over 100 high profile women. To celebrate this year's global theme "The Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum", special guest Jin Xing, the famous dancer and choreographer, shared her perspective as a transgender woman on what The Gender Agenda means to her. This is the fourth year in a row the British embassy has held a reception to mark International Women's Day. This year, the event was attended by a broad range of powerful and inspiring women, including all of the female EU Ambassadors, the heads of UN missions, senior government representatives, media stars, senior businesswomen and NGO leaders.

In Guangzhou, the British consulate-general hosted a seminar on combating domestic violence. Caroline Quinn, second secretary from the embassy, joined Chinese experts in the area, including Ke Qianyi from the Gender Education Forum of Sun Yat-Sen University.

Send embassy news to michaelpeters@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 03/15/2013 page31)