Diplomatic Pouch: With Mike Peters

Britain's Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, was on a working tour of Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen last week, targeting those cities as "key hubs for British business in China", the United Kingdoms' embassy says.

In Shanghai, the prince attended meetings with SAIC Motor Corporation Ltd, producer of the MG6 car, and Shanghai Media Group, China's second largest audio-visual media operator. He also spoke at the opening ceremonies of two UK luxury goods stores in Shanghai (Savoir Beds and Designers Guild).

In South China, he met with the Vice-Governor of Guangdong province, Zhao Yufang, and the Vice-Mayor of Shenzhen, Zhang Wen. He discussed the increasing contribution of UK business to the region and potential future collaborations, particularly in the green economy.

The prince visited leading Shenzhen companies including Huawei Technologies, a global telecommunications solutions provider with significant investments in the UK, and BYD (Build Your Dreams), a leader in the field of electric vehicles and energy storage solutions.

France's new embassy had a public unveiling of its architecture and stylish interiors last weekend, with a Friday night open house. Ambassador Sylvie Bermann hosted French and Chinese VIPs, including painter Fan Zeng, "invisible man" artist Liu Bolin and award-winning director of Let the Bullets Fly, Jiang Wen.

Nanjing was all about Norway late last month at the second International Ibsen Festival for University Students at Nanjing University. The Norwegian embassy reports that the jury had a tough time sorting out one winning team from the six universities that entered, but the group from the Renmin University of China convinced the jury and the audience on the second day of the festival with their interpretation of Peer Gynt.

Other performances, in both contemporary and classic interpretations, included Ghost by Tongji University; Peer Gynt by Taiwan University of Arts; The Lady from the Sea by Shandong University, and The Destruction of Borkman by Xi'an International Studies University. Nanjing Agricultural University contributed with a piece based on two female characters from two Henrik Ibsen plays, and two female characters from classic Chinese plays, making their performance Women Flowers a unique experience.

The jury consisted of Wu Xiaojiang, director of China's National Center for the Performing Arts, Inger Buresund, Norwegian director and the founder of Ibsen International and He Chengzhou, professor and director of Chinese-Nordic Cultural Center and also president of the International Ibsen Committee.

The Swedish embassy announced that Tero Kosonen, managing director of MPS China, will lead a seminar next week in Shanghai on how Nordic countries can best recruit top Chinese graduates. "At present there is simply not enough talent to satisfy the huge hiring demand," says the Swedish Chamber of Commerce. The program is at the Radisson Hotel New World on Nov 10.

Swiss celebrity chef Mattias Rock is in Beijing for a series of events, including two Swiss-themed brunches supported by his country's embassy at the capital's Kempinski Hotel Nov 6 and 13. Rock, the youngest master chef in the luxury hotel group, runs the kitchens at the Kempinski Grand Hotels des Bains in St. Moritz.

Embassy news can be sent to mike.peters.cd@chinadaily.com.cn