British fashion icon Vivienne Westwood unveiled her new red-carpet collection recently at the residence of UK Ambassador to China Sebastian Wood. More than 400 guests from China's creative sector attended the reception, including such celebrities as actress Hu Jing and television host Chen Luyu.

Czech Ambassador Libor Secka hosted a presentation on Friday titled Czech Export Pearls, highlighting his country's products that are currently imported by China or looking to enter the Chinese market, including wine, beer, liquors, mineral waters, food and glass.

Pia Olsen Dyhr, Danish minister for trade and investment, wrapped up a visit to China last week after giving a keynote speech at the China International Fair for Investment and Trade 2012 in Xiamen, Fujian province. She spoke at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart, Commerce Minister Chen Deming, the Danish embassy reports. State Councilor Ma Kai opened the event. Dyhr also visited the Danish shoe giant ECCO's factory in Xiamen.

EU Ambassador to China Markus Ederer on Tuesday welcomed Sebastian Wood, the UK's ambassador to China, and Maria van der Hoeven, the executive director of the International Energy Agency, to meet officials of the National Energy Administration of China. They shared the experience of the Office of Economic Cooperation and Development countries and China's current challenges in natural gas pricing and regulation. She urged an exchange of knowledge with OECD countries as China pushes to achieve its current target of doubling the share of gas in its primary energy use, as set out in the 12th Five-Year Plan.

Vice-Foreign Minister Xie Hangsheng went to the Maltese embassy in China early this month to extend his condolences upon the death of Malta's former prime minister Dom Mintoff. Xie said Mintoff was one of the founders of the Sino-Maltese diplomatic relations, which began 40 years ago. Xie asked Maltese Ambassador to China Joseph Cassar to convey the sincere condolences of the Chinese people to the people of Malta.

Pakistan's Ambassador to China Masood Khan and his defense attache, Brigadier Faheem ul Aziz, hosted a reception celebrating Defense Day at the embassy early this month. Lieutenant General Wang Yongsheng, president of the Chinese National Defense University, was chief guest for the occasion.

Other guests included US Ambassador Gary Locke, Nepal's Ambassador Maskesh Kumar Maskey and Sri Lankan Ambassador Ranjith Uyangoda.

Jane Holl Lute, deputy secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, spoke at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center in Nanjing on Wednesday about boosting the existing cooperative relationships between DHS and counterpart Chinese agencies, and exploring potential for greater cyber security, customs and global supply chain cooperation.

Her delegation's five-day visit includes stops in Beijing, Nanjing and Shanghai.

On her recent visit to the US state of Florida, China's Consul General for Houston Xu Erwen met with Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida, in his office in Miami. A day later the Chinese delegation also met Gene Prescott, vice-chairman of the Miami Tourist Association.

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

(China Daily 09/16/2012 page5)