The Berliner who fell in love with China

I met Dietrich Schroeder at Beijing Capital International Airport last month as we waited for our flights home - he was going to Berlin and I was heading to Toronto.

At 80, the retired German High Court judge exuded the energy and enthusiasm of a teenager as he recalled his many travels to Asia.

"I was nicknamed 'Kabul Schroeder' because I visited Afghanistan several times," he said. "Then my nickname was changed to 'Asian Schroeder' as I began visiting other countries."