Feast of Asia Writing

Culture

In China

Akram Khan, Beijing

Akram Khan is one of Britain's most innovative and influential dancers. His latest full-scale contemporary ensemble work Vertical Road will be staged.

Date: May 12-13

Venue: Drama Theater of National Center for the Performing Arts

Website: http://www.theatrebeijing.com

TenThing Brass Ensemble, Beijing

The Norwegian ensemble works closely with Norwegian guitarist and arranger Jarle G. Storlokken, who arranges all the group music.

Date: May 15

Venue: Concert Hall of National Center for the Performing Arts

Website: http://www.theatrebeijing.com

Diotima String Quartet, Beijing

The repertoire ranges from Haydn to the composers of today, focusing on the classical period, French Romanticism, the early 20th century, and a selection of major works from the past 50 years. The performance and dissemination of newly commissioned works is a significant part of the group's activities.

Date: May 17

Venue: Forbidden City Concert Hall

Website: http://www.theatrebeijing.com

Culture

In Europe

Chinese and Other Asian Works of Art, London

Items such as a lobed deep bowl, which is decorated in blue and pink enamel with shou symbols, will be auctioned.

Date: May 14

Venue: Bonhams second London saleroom, Montpelier Street

Website: http://www.bonhams.com

Beili Liu: Rise and Fall, London

A contemporary Chinese-American artist, whose works explore the poetic possibilities of quotidian materials.

Date: Till May 31

Venue: Hua Gallery

Website: http://www.hua-gallery.com

Chinese Landscape Paintings Celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Renmin University of China, London

A collection of traditional and modern Chinese urban and landscape paintings.

Date: Till May 31, Monday to Friday, 8.30 am-6.30 pm (closed weekends)

Venue: University of Westminster, Cafe Gallery, 309 Regent Street

Events can be sent to: events@mail.chinadailyuk.com

Diplomatic Pouch: With Mike Peters

EU delegation to China head Markus Ederer hosted a Europe Day reception for more than 2,000 guests on Wednesday.

On May 9, 1950, after two world wars consumed Europe in less than 50 years, Robert Schuman presented his proposal for an organized Europe that would become indispensable to the maintenance of peaceful relations. His proposal, known as the Schuman Declaration, is considered to be the seed for what is now the European Union.

May 9 has become a European symbol, along with the flag, the anthem, the motto and the single currency, the euro, all of which define the political entity of the EU.

The recent Greek movie production Mustafa's Sweet Dreams got enthusiastic audience reviews at a screening in the Chinese capital during the Beijing International Movie Festival.

The film, by Greek director Angelos Abazoglou, was screened at three different theaters. Greek Ambassador to China Theodore Georgeakelos and his staff arranged a special screening at the China National Film Museum for students and professors from the Communication Art Center of Peking University and guests from the Turkish embassy in Beijing, since the movie was shot in Turkey.

French voters at home handed the country's presidency to Socialist Francois Hollande, but the incumbent was more popular in China. More than 58 percent of eligible French citizens voted in Shanghai, for instance, and about two-thirds supported President Nicolas Sarkozy, according to unofficial results posted on the French embassy website.

Every three months, the Danish embassy in Beijing will display works by upcoming artists in its new meeting center, beginning with the current collection of paintings by Li Yiwen.

The new program means "Danish business people, politicians, diplomats, and students will get the opportunity to see what happens on the Chinese art scene", Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen says.

Li was born in 1982 and studied at the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

"My works usually focuse on questioning reality, history and existence," he says.

Three Chinese students won a chance to cruise around one of Beijing's embassy districts with German Ambassador Michael Schaefer in the official embassy car. The students were among about 200 young guests who signed up for Germany's open house this week, which included a presentation about the embassy's work, a short piano program of Lizst arrangements of songs by Robert Schumann, competitions to compose posts for the embassy's micro blog and a barbecue buffet in the embassy garden hosted by Schaefer.

The Norwegian embassy announced that famed brass group TenThing will perform at the Beijing May Festival on May 15. This year's festival includes 15 chamber concerts performed by Chinese and foreign groups. Formed in 2007, the group consists of 10 brass musicians, all women. They have performed all over Norway, including at the 2011 Norwegian Grammy Awards, and at the Rheingau and Bad Kissingen festivals in Germany, the Chester Festival in Britain and La Foce in Tuscany, Italy.

Embassy and consulate news can be sent to michaelpeters@chinadaily.com.cn