A world of goods sold for charity

Cigar rollers draw a crowd at the Cuba?booth during the charity bazaar.

More than 75 embassies and NGOs welcomed the public to Beijing's Chaoyang Park last weekend for a charity bazaar organized by Le Aimei, wife of the Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

Shoppers found great deals on Cypriot wine, Palestinian enamel, Turkish ceramics, Russian vodka, Danish amber, Armenian brandy, Egyptian food and much more. The proceeds went to Lifeline Express, a mobile eye hospital train that provides cataract surgeries for needy patients in China. Cross-cultural entertainers such as Romanian singer Mugur Ciugancan, one-time winner of a Chinese TV singing contest for foreigners, kept the crowd in a party mood.

Mexico's ambassador Jorge Guajardo and his wife, Paola, hosted a huge fiesta last Saturday for the community of Mexican nationals around Beijing. Some traveled from farther- flung corners of China, lured by the promise of real chorizo tacos, a margarita machine in overdrive, and a spirited singing of the national anthem for Mexico's Independence Day.

On Sept 14, the Guajardos hosted the Beijing diplomatic corps and other friends of the embassy for a luncheon reception.

Latin music lingered in the air on embassy row for several days last week, as Chilean Ambassador Luis Schmidt Montes opened the embassy gates for his national day celebration on Tuesday. VIP guests included Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Xie Hangsheng.

Finnish Ambassador to China Lars Backstrom and his wife Brigitta hosted a reception and fashion show for the Marja Kurki company last week at the embassy residence in Beijing.

German Ambassador to China Michael Schaefer was on a panel in Cologne last week with his counterpart, Chinese Ambassador to Germany Shi Mingde. The two diplomats kicked off a business and investors forum for about 400 managers and experts from both countries. Schaefer also spoke at the opening of Dragon Dance in Cologne, a three-day festival celebrating the 25th year of Cologne's sister-city relationship with Beijing. Schaefer noted that about 20,000 Chinese people live in the surrounding state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and about 700 Chinese companies operate there.

Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt ended her visit to China last week with a stop in Shanghai, meeting a delegation of CEOs and specialists in the maritime industries of both countries. Danish Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen, Danish Consul General Karsten Ankjar Jensen, Chairman of Shanghai International Port Group Chen Xuyuan, CEO of Danish Maritime Jenny N. Braat and CEO of Maersk Terminals Kim Fejferled led discussions about future cooperation in maritime shipping and shipbuilding.

Czech Ambassador to China Libor Secka and his wife, Sabrina, hosted the Emil Viklicky Jazz Trio for a reception and concert for embassy guests on Friday. The trio was also in town to perform at Beijing's Seventh Ninegates Jazz Festival.

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