Diplomatic Pouch | Mike Peters

The British embassy in Beijing will host an architecture talk on Beijing's evolving skyline partnership with Arup. The 4 pm program at Capital M will feature a panel of masterminds behind Beijing's iconic skyline, representing the United Kingdom and China, include Chas Pope, associate director of Arup; Satoshi Ohashi, associate director of Zaha Hadid Architects; and Winston Shu, founder of Integrated Design Associates.

The audience will get an insider's understanding from the design to the completion of the CCTV Tower, Galaxy SOHO, Beijing Capital Airport and one of the most advanced buildings in Beijing, the more recently opened Parkview Green that was engineered by Arup.

Due to the installation of new software at the Dutch embassy in Beijing, the visa application process will be limited between Sept 2 and 6. Beginning Sept 9, the visa section will open again to its full capacity. More info can be found at China.nlembassy.org .

China's Vice-Foreign Minister Zhai Jun recently met with Ahmed Rezk M. Rezk, Egypt's ambassador to China, to bid farewell before the envoy's departure.

China's Vice-Foreign Minister Zhai Jun recently welcomed a visiting delegation of senior diplomats from Africa. Gaoussou Toure, head of the delegation and secretary-general of the foreign ministry of Guinea, expressed appreciation and gratitude for China's long-time support for peace and development in Africa, the Chinese foreign ministry reported.

Chinese Consul-General to Chicago Zhao Weiping attended the premiere of Adventures of Marco Polo at the White House Theater in Branson, Missouri, last month at the invitation of China Heaven Creation International Performing Arts Company. Produced by the CHC, Adventures of Marco Polo will run for 100 shows until November. Featuring original orchestration, dance, acrobatics and magic, it's the love story between the legendary Italian explorer and the beautiful ethnic Mongolian girl Sa Ren in China's Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) nearly 800 years ago.

Chinese Ambassador Lin Lin hosted a reception in Harare for Zimbabwean students preparing to study in China, with scholarships from the Chinese government and others. More than 100 people attended, including 16 scholarship recipients and their relatives, students from the Confucius Institute at the University of Zimbabwe and various officials.

Danish Ambassador to China Friis Arne Petersen recently discussed establishing a direct air route between Copenhagen and Guangzhou with the president and CEO of China Southern Airlines, Tan Wangeng, in Guangzhou. According to Copenhagen Airport, the number of Chinese passengers using the airport in 2012 exceeded 50,000. To improve access for business travelers, Petersen said the Danish government has decided to create a "red-carpet fast-track" visa application procedure for Chinese businesspeople. Copenhagen is the biggest airport in Europe without the presence of a Chinese airline.

Frances Adamson, Australia's ambassador to China, took the stage with Australian film director Baz Luhrmann to introduce his adaptation of The Great Gatsby at its Chinese premiere last week.

"This 3-D movie showcases Australia's considerable directorial and acting talent," Adamson said, "and was entirely shot and post-produced in Australia - demonstrating the key strengths the Australian film industry has to offer partners around the world, including China." She noted that Australia-China cooperation in the screen sector has grown rapidly in recent years, boosted by the Australia-China Film Co-Production Treaty that entered into force in late 2008.

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

(China Daily 09/01/2013 page5)