Diplomatic Pouch: With Mike Peters

EU High Representative/Commission Vice-President Catherine Ashton launched a new art exhibition by and for children, Europe in My Heart, during her visit to Beijing for the third round of the EU-China Strategic Dialogue last week.

There were categories for Chinese artists as young as 3 and as old as 18, and the show continues at the China Children's Center through July 20.

The best 60 fine art works from all entries will be selected, and will be exhibited for 10 days at the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels Belgium.

Other entries will be displayed in October for seven days at Chaoyang Park, Beijing, during the International Travel and Cultural Festival.

Ashton took a moment at last week's EU-China Strategic Dialogue in Beijing to salute State Councillor Dai Bingguo.

Ashton recalled that the first round had been held in Guizhou, Dai's home province, and for the second round she took Dai "back to Budapest, a city - and a country - he knew well from his time as the Chinese ambassador there".

Ashton said her personal relationship with Dai and his "experience and wisdom have helped us to have serious discussions". Noting that there are changes expected in China's leadership, she said she wanted to pay tribute to Dai "and to wish him very well for the future".

The first lady of the Czech Republic, Livia Klausova, is the guest of honor in Beijing on July 13 at a ceremony relaunching the Czech children's cartoon The Little Mole on China Central Television. Her goodwill trip coincides with a visit by a business delegation from Prague.

It is her second visit to China. She accompanied her husband, President Vaclav Klaus, to Beijing for his state visit in 2004.

Saying it was no accident that he was making his third visit to Hong Kong as a Foreign Office minister, Jeremy Browne told the British Chamber of Commerce there last week that "Britain is looking East like never before".

He said the UK will add 60 new jobs to its diplomatic network in China and push for a 40 percent increase in the number of Chinese speakers in the Foreign Office by 2015.

"I think there is a real opportunity this year, as we inherit the Olympic baton, to drive forward the UK's relationship with China," he said.

"We look forward not only to welcoming Chinese athletes to the UK, but also Chinese businesses and spectators," he said. "We will also host a special event at the British business embassy during the London Games focused specifically on China, one of only two such events."

Lasse Karlsen, technical director of the Norwegian Maritime Authority, visited China recently to exchange views with Chinese experts on the use of liquefied natural gas as shipping fuel, the Norwegian embassy reports.

Norway is currently the world leader in this sector with 29 LNG-fueled ships in operation - currently the whole world fleet of LNG-fueled ships.

Karlsen was invited by the Beijing Energy Club and the LNG China 2012 conference to talk about his experiences.

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

(China Daily 07/13/2012 page31)