Diplomatic Pouch | Mike Peters

Turkish Ambassador Murat Salim Esenli (pictured) celebrated the 90th anniversary of the founding of modern Turkey with a reception in Beijing on Tuesday. The party came in a flurry of activity for the 2013 Cultural Year of Turkey in China. Last weekend, a concert with traditional instruments at the China Conservatory of Music featured professor Li Lingling performing on the gucheng (zither) with visiting Turkish musicians. Another concert the next night at The Peninsula hotel was a benefit for the China Breast Cancer Foundation. The hotel also hosted a painting exhibition with the theme of Istanbul by Turkish artist Devrim Erbil and auctioned one of his paintings for the charity. A photo exhibition through Nov 8 at the Peking University's Natural Sciences Teaching Building features photos of Turkey shot by Chinese photographers and photos of China shot by Turkish photographers.

* * *

EU Ambassador Markus Ederer was on hand for Friday's kick-off of the 6th European Film Festival in China, hosting a cocktail reception and film premiere at the Megabox theater in Beijing's Sanlitun area. A complete schedule for the monthlong festival can be viewed at eu-in-china.com.

* * *

Algeria's Ambassador to China Hassane Rabehi celebrated his country's 59th national day with a reception at Beijing's China World Hotel on Friday.

* * *

Luxembourg's new ambassador to China, Paul Steinmetz, celebrated the "golden season" of autumn - and the recent renovation of the embassy residence - with a reception and double-bill concert by Laurent Warnier and partner Xi Rachel Zhang, performing as the Joint Venture Percussion Duo (marimba) and Pascal Schumacher (vibraphone) on Oct 31. Schumacher and his ensemble of jazz musicians are beginning their second tour in China, with concerts in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing.

* * *

The first World Agritourism Development Forum in Changsha, Hunan province, concluded last weekend, attracting more than 400 participants, including 46 ambassadors and 26 mayors from every continent and China's former foreign minister, Li Zhaoxing.

Agritourism is any agriculturally based activity that encourages visitors to experience agricultural life first-hand. Forum organizer John Xing, secretary-general of the Friendship Communication Organization of Ambassadors and Madams on Knowing Chinese Culture, noted: "China has the world's largest number of farmers and growing the agritourism industry can improve the income of farmers, greatly increase China's GDP as well as helping people gain a better understanding of how we reap nature's bounty in an eco-friendly manner."

Ng Yen Yen, chairwoman of Tourism Malaysia, provided examples of her country's successful home-stay program, in which the average farmer realizes an average of $1,000 additional income per month. Ambassador Siamelie Latu of Tonga said that agritourism was an important and viable economic model in his Pacific Island kingdom. "Agritourism is saving thousands of small farms from extinction and is helping to build a stronger country."

Harvey Dzodin contributed to this report.

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

(China Daily 11/03/2013 page5)