Ambassador Julian Ventura, who recently arrived in Beijing, hosted Mexican nationals and new friends. Wu Chuanjing / China Daily

Celebrating "the 203rd anniversary of the beginning of our fight for independence after a long period of colonial rule", Mexican ambassador to China Julian Ventura applauded the state of relations between his country and China. Noting that China's President Xi Jinping and Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto have met three times in just six months, Ventura said he looks forward to implementing plans to bring more tequila and pork to the Chinese market, as well as other agricultural and manufacturing products.

There was plenty of tequila and Mexican food on hand for embassy guests at two celebrations this month. First, the ambassador and his wife, Mariana Luiselli-Ventura, hosted a traditional bell-ringing party for Mexican nationals in the capital. A few days later, there was a lunch reception for diplomats, business executives and VIP guests, including the chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission, Xu Shaoshi.

See our interview with Ambassador Ventura at video.chinadaily.com.cn.

Indonesian Ambassador Imron Cotan got a little emotional at his country's national day reception last week, noting that the event would be his last in China before his posting ends later this year. He expressed delight that China's President Xi Jinping would be visiting Indonesia soon, and he presented prizes to lucky-draw winners, including fellow ambassadors Victor Sikonina of Madagascar and Muhammad Azizul Haque of Bangladesh. Cotan and his wife, Enni, hosted the reception at Beijing's Grand Millenium Hotel.

The embassy of Uruguay hosted cross-country meat tastings for the country's lamb and beef exports. Ambassador Rosario Portell and the general manager of the National Meat Institute of Uruguay, Ruy Gil, presented meat and wine at an agricultural expo in Urumqi last week and then returned to the capital to host a garden barbecue party at the Kempinski Hotel Beijing.

Gabon's Ambassador Jean-Robert Goulongana and his wife celebrated his country's national day recently, hosting a reception at Beijing's Grand Millennium Hotel.

Chilean Ambassador Luis Schmidt Montes recently welcomed his country's nationals, fellow diplomats and business associates for Chile's national day celebration at the embassy.

Bolivia's Ambassador Guillermo Chalup and the president of the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Zhao Jiaqi, hosted the opening ceremony for the touring exhibition Quinoa of Bolivia. The embassy also sponsored a scientific forum on Bolivia's grain and other agricultural products that day.

Against the backdrop of the five-year anniversary of China's anti-monopoly law, top EU official Cecilio Madero visited Beijing and conferred with his counterparts at the National Development and Reform Commission, China's Foreign Ministry and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.

Thailand's Ambassador Wiboon Khusakul hosted a tasting party last week for the embassy's micro blog followers who love durian. Thailand produces a lot of that spiky fruit with highly aromatic flesh, and guests enjoyed fresh durian as well as chips, candy, cakes and cheesecake.

Czech Ambassador Libor Secka and his wife, Sabrina, hosted an embassy exhibition of the artist Vladimr Kokolia, Visual Penetration, last weekend. The artist travels on to Sichuan province for a bigger show in Chengdu's Museum of Contemporary Art.

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

(China Daily 09/29/2013 page5)