Tap dancing without sound saves the day

Irish Culture Minister Jimmy Deenihan with stars from Riverdance last weekend. Mike Peters / China Daily

The day of Riverdance's opening performance in Beijing dawned in disappointment: the performers arrived in the capital but their stage sets, electronics, costumes and signature dance shoes - the big-heeled ones that make mighty sounds of joy - were snowbound in Shandong province.

Sunday's performance was postponed until Tues

day afternoon, but the Irish embassy and the dance troupe combined diplomatic and artistic muscle to save the day. Ambassador Declan Kelleher, visiting Irish Culture Minister Jimmy Deenihan and international Irish law firm A&L Goodbody hosted an "Irish Night" reception at the theater for about 200 guests, which included an impromptu performance by the iconic dancers, who were just starting a 26-city China tour. After a "world premiere" version of Reel of the Sun performed with the Chinese band Taihua Tianshi, the "Riverdance Unplugged" invited guests up to learn a few fancy dance moves. Dance leader Padraic Moyles coached from the stage as other cast members partnered with lawyers and other business folk in the crowd. Within the hour, "I danced with Riverdance!" posts were streaming across Sina Weibo.

Earlier on the weekend, Kelleher and his wife, Sigrun, hosted 25 young Chinese lawyers who have recently returned from a six-month exchange program with Irish law firms.

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Time is money

The Israeli embassy in Beijing hosted legendary conductor Zubin Mehta (pictured) for a reception and press conference at the embassy last weekend. Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic performed a New Year's concert on Dec 31 at the Great Hall of the People. The Israelis were also the guest symphony at the event in 2008.

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Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt took questions on the Chinese micro blog Sina Weibo for an hour during his visit to Beijing last month, answering 49 of the 222 questions submitted. He addressed topics including those concerning visas, studying and working in Sweden, the new Chinese leadership, the Nobel prize, corruption, integration politics and the Swedish tax system. Bildt was in the Chinese capital to meet China's Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun, as well as Chinese and international economists.

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If you want a job in the 21st century, US Ambassador to China Gary Locke told American high-school students recently, "learn about history. Learn about culture and language. If you can speak Chinese or Spanish, you are practically guaranteed a job in your chosen field."

The students came from eight high schools and junior high schools that focus on international students, according to Anthony Jackson, vice-president for education at the Asia Society, which hosted the December program in New York. The students, all Chinese learners, quizzed the ambassador about how the US and China work together to solve problems such as Somali piracy, the war in Afghanistan, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, and water security issues related to global warming.

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France issues commemorative stamp for China's Year of Snake

Greece's Ambassador Theodore Georgakelos recently appeared on CCTV's Breakfast with Ambassadors, talking up tourism and other investment opportunities for Chinese businesses, including renewable energy and other infrastructure programs in Greece.

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The Netherlands deputy head of mission in Beijing, Andre Driessen, recently spoke at the annual gathering of the Netherlands Alumni Network China, urging Dutch and Chinese members returning from academic studies in his country to consider themselves "Holland Brand Ambassadors". "Alumni are crucial links in the chain of relations between our two countries," he said at the event last month. "You stand with one foot in the Netherlands and the other in China."

Send embassy news to michaelpeters@chinadaily.com.cn