Professor and author Xu Shicheng chats with reporters at the embassy reception. Mike Peters / China Daily

Venezuela's Ambassador Rocio Maneiro hosted a reception on Thursday to celebrate the publication of the first biography of Hugo Chavez in Chinese.

After speeches by professor Xu Shicheng, the author, and Wang Pen, a researcher-expert on Latin America at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Maneiro declared that it was customary to christen a new book to ensure its success. Her staff swarmed the podium with champagne, and soon crystal glasses were chinking around the crowded room. Before writing the book on Venezuela's leader, Xu was on the translation team for the autobiography of Cuba's revolutionary leader Fidel Castro.

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The UK has launched a new program to attract "exceptionally talented leaders" in science, humanities, engineering and the arts to come to Britain, according to the embassy's website in Beijing.

"The UK is a global leader in science, humanities and engineering," UK Immigration Minister Damian Green said last week. "We will continue to welcome those who have the most to offer and contribute to our society and economy."

The new 'Exceptional Talent' route will open on Aug 9 for up to 1,000 migrants - "not only those who have already been recognized but also those with the potential to be recognized as leaders in their respective fields", the embassy says.

Candidates from China and other countries don't need to be sponsored by an employer but must be nominated through one of four agencies: the Royal Society, Arts Council England, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the British Academy.

Employers are currently able to bring 20,700 people from outside the EU to work in skilled professions under 'Tier Two'. The additional 1,000 visas will be available through the new exceptional talent route.

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Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini wrapped up a four-day visit to China by paying a reciprocal visit to Secretary General of the Communist Party of Guangdong province Wang Yang, who led a delegation to Italy in June. Frattini also conferred with representatives of Chinese sovereign wealth funds.

The foreign minister hosted Chinese journalists at a press conference in Beijing and was interviewed on three television programs, including "World Leaders" on Phoenix TV with anchorman Anthony Yuen, scheduled for broadcast Aug 7.

Recently signed agreements include a deal to produce a documentary on the Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci, believed to be the first Westerner invited to the Forbidden City in 1601, jointly by CCTV's "Documentary" and Italian national broadcast television's "RAI World".

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To celebrate "one year to go to the Olympics", the British Embassy, Visit Britain and the British Council in China partnered with Sina.com and British Airways last week to offer one lucky winner two round-trip tickets to the UK.

The five-day online campaign showcased London's new Olympic facilities and showed how the concept of sustainability lies at the heart of their design and construction. Visitors to the site could compete for flights to the UK by answering a set of questions related to the London Olympics and the UK more generally. The feature pages were updated daily with previously unseen video interviews of popular Chinese Olympians: Equestrian Alex Huatian, gymnast He Kexin, 2008 Olympic men's weightlifting champion Lu Yong, 2008 Olympic women's judo champion Yang Xiuli; captain of China women's national field hockey team Li Hongxia and snooker player Ding Junhui.

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The Cuban embassy hosted a farewell reception on Friday night for outgoing Ambassador to China Carlos Miguel Pereira, who will return to Havana in August. China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Assistant Foreign Minister Zhang Kunsheng have recently met with Pereira, exchanging views on bilateral ties and other issues.

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Norway's University of Bergen and Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou hosted a workshop on work/life balance in Guangzhou at the end of June. "Work/life balance is a relatively new concept in China," the embassy says on its website, "China is facing demographic and structural changes such as an aging population, low fertility rates and a smaller workforce. Work is characterized by long hours with extensive overtime. The representatives from the University of Bergen, led by professor Stein Kuhnle, gave presentations about the experiences in reconciling work and family in Norway and Europe. The School of Government at Sun Yat-Sen University will edit a book in Chinese based on the workshop. Kuhnle has been appointed an honorary professor at the School of Government at Sun Yat-Sen University from 2011 to 2014.

Embassy news can be sent to mike.peters.cd@gmail.com.cn.

(China Daily 07/31/2011 page5)