Diplomatic Pouch | Mike Peters

Before heading to Washington this month for his new posting, Dutch Ambassador to China Rudolf Bekink visited Wang Weimin, vice-chairman of the counselor's office of China's State Council. During the visit, the ambassador received a guided tour at the former Dutch legation where Wang's office is now situated. Bekink was pleased he had the opportunity to visit the historical building, designed by well-known Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers, built in 1873 and renovated in 2004. The ambassador said he hoped his successors will also have the opportunity to meet with the counselor's office at the monumental building in the future.

The incoming ambassador, Aad Jacobi, will arrive in August.

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The Commercial Press of China has agreed to publish the Chinese translation of Gandhi's Outstanding Leadership. Indian Ambassador S. Jaishankar hosts a signing ceremony on Monday between the press and the chief translator of the book, professor Shang Quanyu from Guangdong Foreign Affairs University.

One of India's distinguished diplomats, retired ambassador Pascal Alan Nazareth, wrote the book, which has been widely translated around the world. Nazareth founded the Sarvodaya International Trust in 1995, whose aim is to further Gandhian ideals.

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A delegation of China's top entrepreneurs flew to the UK this week at the invitation of Prime Minister David Cameron to participate in a week-long business program organized by UK Trade & Investment. British Ambassador Sebastian Wood hosted a send-off for the group with Liu Chuanzhi, chairman of the China Entrepreneur Club and founder of Lenovo Group.

More than 30 of China's most influential business leaders, including Charles Chao of Sina Corporation, Guo Guangchang of Fosun Group, Wang Shi of China Vanke and Ma Weihua of the China Merchants Bank, will also experience some of the excitement of London 2012 as the Olympic Games get underway.

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Earlier this month, a soccer match was hosted by the British consulate general in Chongqing, in anticipation of London's Olympic Games.

The friendship match, held at Sichuan International Studies University, pitted a local team from the Sincere Real Estate Community, a Chongqing company, against the Chong-qing International Football Club, composed of expatriate nationals of the UK, Australia, Denmark, France, Ghana, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, and the United States, as well as some players from Hong Kong.

Xiong Yu, Chongqing's official London Olympic torchbearer and the event's guest of honor, kicked off the match and also brought his torch to show the fans and players.

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The embassy of Iceland will host Ocean Without Paths, Icelandic music for guitar, in a solo concert by Ogmundur Thor Johannesson on Friday, Aug 3 at Beijing's Penghao Theater. Info: 010-6400-6452/72.

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Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos hosted Chinese Ambassador Du Qiwen this month for a meeting on bilateral cooperation, the Greek embassy in Beijing said. The Chinese envoy conveyed an invitation to Avramopoulos to visit Beijing and stressed that Greece is one of China's strategic partners in the European Union.

Send embassy news to michaelpeters@chinadaily.com.cn.

(China Daily 07/29/2012 page5)