Diplomatic pouch: With mike peters

Ten carefully selected Danish IT and engineering students will soon be traveling to China for a high-tech and cultural trip, the Danish embassy said last week, announcing an exchange program created by Chinese tech giant Huawei, Invest in Denmark and Danish universities.

"We are expanding our business in Denmark," says James Chen, managing director of Huawei Nordics & Baltics, "and for us it's important to learn more about the Danish culture, values and competencies of the students.

"By giving them the opportunity to go to China we are hopeful that we will have a mutual exchange of experiences."

The Danish students will visit Huawei's headquarters in Shenzhen, including the data center, logistics center, production center and the company's own university.

Then, on to Shanghai, to see Huawei's state-of-the-art research and development center that employs over 8,000 engineers.

The selected students are engineering specialists in IT and telecommunications from Technical University of Denmark, Aalborg University, Aarhus University and the University of Southern Denmark.

Follow the man with the wine. That seemed to be the mantra after Slovak Ambassador Frantisek Dlhopolceck hosted a Tourism Day event at his residence this week.

The man who had an instant following was Karol Sebo, marketing director of Chateau Modra in Slovakia, who presented several vintages for tasting from his country.

Sebo says he came to China for two years recently to learn the language and study business opportunities. The latter now includes a partnership with the Sino-Czech-Slovak Friendship Farm, an agricultural cooperative project that was launched in the 1950s in Hebei province.

The German Chamber of Commerce in China, Tianjin will host its second annual "German Night" in Tianjin on May 28. The 2010 event drew more than 80 guests and friends of the German community.

Program plans include live music, a lucky draw and lots of giveaways. Sponsorship possibilities are open, says the chamber's Christoph Fazakas.

The City of London's Lord Mayor Michael Bear is leading a business delegation to China this week on a 10-day visit, aiming to maximize business ties in areas including financing, legal services, banking, education, maritime services and sustainable development.

Stops include Beijing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Bear will meet key Chinese political leaders as well as regulators and financial-sector leaders.

Artistic Chinese children have had their thinking caps on since International Women's Day, March 8. That's when the European Union launched its fifth art contest focusing on gender equality.

Around 50,000 children are involved each year, the EU website says, and Chinese children between the ages of 8 and 10 are invited to submit drawings by May 20 with the subject, "Once upon a time there were a girl and a boy; together they wanted to make the world a better place "

A peer jury of European children will select the best 14 drawings, from students around the world. Each winner will receive a prize equivalent to 1,000 euros, which can be used to buy books, computers or other education materials.

The drawings of the winners will be published in a booklet that will be distributed in the schools of the participating countries.

Embassy news can be sent to [email protected].