Diplomatic Pouch: With Mike Peters

The Danish embassy and chambers of commerce hosted their annual summer party for Danes in and around Beijing with 400 adults and children showing up on Saturday in a festive mood. Guests enjoyed a barbecue buffet and cold Carlsberg beer accompanied by live jazz music, while children played a variety of games. The winner of a quiz competition went home with an air ticket to Denmark.

Soccer fans at the party climbed on buses later to go to a bar to watch Denmark beat the Netherlands. But some of the embassy staff went back to work to prepare for President Hu Jintao's visit to Denmark.

A few days earlier, Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen hosted a reception on June 5 at the embassy residence to celebrate the Danish national day. About 300 business associates of the embassy and other guests attended the event, including Song Tao, deputy minister of foreign affairs, and several ambassadors. Michael Hauge Sorensen, on behalf of the Danish footwear brand Ecco, was presented with a special award from the Danish Export Association and a medal from Prince Henrik.

Danish national day celebrates the signing of the Danish Constitution in 1849.

The European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Ciolos, and the Chinese Minister for Administration of Quality, Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, Zhi Shuping, have agreed in Beijing to open negotiations on a mutual recognition agreement in the field of organic food products. China and the European Union will examine their respective legislations. Standards and controls applied to organic production will be assessed to find common ground for trade in organic products and long-term cooperation in this area. EU exports of organic products to China increased by 25 percent last.

Croatian Ambassador to China Ante Simonic celebrated his country's national day and armed forces day and the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Croatia and China by hosting an evening of Croatian films at the Italian Cultural Institute in Beijing.

China and Greece celebrated 40 years of diplomatic ties at a reception hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries on June 7.

The Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Sun Jiazheng, exchanged gifts with Greece's ambassador to China, Theodore Georgakelos.

Other VIP guests included the vice-minister of foreign affairs, Zhai Jun, and the chairman of the Chinese shipping company COSCO Group, Captain Wei Jiafu, as well as high-level Chinese officials, ambassadors and leaders from political, economic and cultural spheres in Beijing.

Children and students from the two countries presented poems, songs and a theatrical sketch.

The embassy of Sweden marked International Children's Day on June 1 by highlighting the rights of children and, together with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute in China, organized an Experts' Exchange on Juvenile Justice. Twelve of China's most prominent experts in the field discussed topics including the new criminal procedure law, the best interest of the child in criminal procedure, and the role of various people in reintegrating a child into society after he or she is found guilty of a crime.

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

(China Daily 06/15/2012 page31)