Diplomatic pouch | Mike Peters

Greek politicians at home are still wrangling about their country's fiscal future, but that didn't stop Greek Ambassador to China Theodoros Georgakelos from welcoming Chinese business leaders to an Invest in Greece seminar in Beijing this week. Inviting the attendees to "follow the successful path of leading Chinese companies", Georgakelos said his country's ambitious privatization program offers opportunities in many sectors, including tourism, clean energy, biotechnology and ore mines.

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The Austrian embassy announces that a Nov 19 showing of Villa Henriette, in German with Chinese subtitles, will give local youngsters a cross-cultural experience at Beijing's Juvenile & Children Reading Experience Wonderland.

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The Danish engineering company Grundfos donated three pump systems to Harbin Institute of Technology in China last week, "to enhance students' mindset of system integration and energy conservation," the Danish embassy in Beijing says. At the ceremony in Harbin were Zhang Xianyou, vice-mayor of Harbin; Soren Jacobsen, minister counsellor from the Danish embassy; Peter Yan, PR director of Grundfos China and Egon Hygom Poulsen, research and development of Grundfos China.

"Harbin and Aarhus are old friends as sister cities," Zhang said. "It was established in 1984 and since then both cities have carried out a lot of exchange programs in different fields of trade, science and technology, culture and education. Furthermore, Harbin Institute of Technology signed an agreement with Aarhus University in 2010 to develop educational cooperation, and they have carried out some projects already."

"The embassy urges Danes and Chinese to interact as much as possible culturally, socially and commercially," Sorensen said, saluting Grundfos for its annual investment in R&D, talent training and education. In 2005 Grundfos donated 24 pumps to Harbin's School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering.

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Denmark's Consul General Susanne Hyldelund announced the opening of Danish Showroom Shanghai, which will give Chinese consumers a chance to experience quality Danish food and beverages. The showroom, created to strengthen the visibility and business of Danish food suppliers, will display products and function as a meeting, business and event hub for Chinese importers, distributors and retailers. The showroom hopes to extend its promotions into TV shopping, selected business clubs, high-end hotel shops, fitness centers, ballroom dance halls and tax-free shops in Shanghai airports. Denmark's Ambassador to China Friis Arne Petersen will cut the ribbon for the official opening on Thursday.

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The British embassy notes that China is the most popular destination out of the BRICS countries for UK holiday-makers, according to the World Travel Market 2011 Industry Report released this week. Out of the 1,006 Britons on holiday surveyed, 46 percent are interested in visiting China and another 8 percent have already done so. More than 1,000 senior executives in the world's tourism industry, also part of the survery, said China is the most important country for their businesses, with the country's natural beauty, growing economy and the availability of direct flights being key reasons.

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Online shopping surveys indicate that Angry Birds were the hottest costume for Halloween this year. That's good news for Rovia, the Finnish company behind the popular animated computer game, which recently launched its Asian operations in Shanghai. On hand for last month's ceremonies were Matti Heimonen, consul general of Finland in Shanghai; Alexander Stubb, Finland's minister for European affairs and foreign trade; Lars Backstrom, Helsinki's ambassador to Beijing; and Rovio chief Peter Vesterbacka, who handed out business cards with his title "Mighty Eagle".

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

(China Daily 11/13/2011 page5)