New Czech envoy hits the ground running at National Day fete

For me as a new expat in China, one of the unexpected pleasures of China's National Day celebration on October 1 was the ripple effect it had on other countries. Embassies that are celebrating their own National Days in the wake of China's have an extra reason to party as they mark the anniversary of their relations with the New China. (Ten countries established diplomatic relations with the New China in its first year. Can you name them?)

I had the privilege to attend several of these events recently, hosted by the embassies of Cuba, Turkey, the Czech Republic and, on Monday night, Algeria.

Guests at the Czech Republic's embassy last week celebrated a triple occasion: the October 28 Czech National Day, the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations with China and the arrival of the dapper new ambassador, Libor Secka.