CULTURE >> IN EUROPE

Photograph exhibition of Shanghai Expo, Paris

This event is jointly organized so that everyone can enjoy the colorful and memorable success of World Expo Shanghai 2010. People will see how the cultures and characteristics of different countries were shown during the Expo.

Venue: Chinese Cultural Center

Date: Till April 18

Contact: cccparisinfo@gmail.com

Exhibition of Miao ethnic group in Guizhou province, Paris

The Miao is one of the 56 ethnic groups in China. In the 2000 census, there were 8.94 million Miao people in the country, and half of them live in Guizhou province. Miao costume is meaningful and decorative motifs are of great beauty and each creation is unique and of infinite variety.

Venue: Chinese Cultural Center

Date: April 20-May 8

Contact: cccparisinfo@gmail.com

Events can be submitted by e-mail to:

events@mail.chinadailyuk.com.

Diplomatic pouch: With mike peters

Britain's Trade and Investment Minister Lord Stephen Green arrived in China this week for a five-day business tour that takes him to Beijing, Chongqing and Hong Kong. The British embassy in Beijing bills the visit as a follow-up to Prime Minister David Cameron's trip to China last November, when he led a significant UK business delegation and reached agreement with the Chinese government to double bilateral trade by 2015.

China is the UK's ninth largest export goods market, and several hundred British companies have a base in the country. Last year, UK exports of goods to China increased by more than 40 percent, to 7.2 billion pounds (8.31 billion euros). The UK is particularly strong in the services sector, exporting 2.3 billion pounds in services to China in 2009.

"China has seen spectacular unbroken growth over the last 30 years and is a market that is very important to the UK's economic development," said Lord Green, noting he had lived in China for a significant time himself. "It is our key partner for growth."

Lord Green said he will also use this visit to emphasize the attractions of the UK as an investment destination. China already has a strong presence in sectors such as energy and high-speed rail and this is expected to increase as more opportunities open up in the area of infrastructure.

Chinese investment into the UK was $44 million (31 million euros) in 2009, 9.3 per cent of total Chinese investment to the EU. By the end of August 2010, Chinese investment in the UK by stock was $1.13 billion. The UK is now home to more than 400 Chinese mainland companies.

Companies from Denmark and China topped the 2010 list as the world's largest wind turbine manufacturers, the Danish embassy announced. According to a new survey made by MAKE Consulting, Danish Vestas still holds the top spot while Chinese Sinovel last year overtook American GE as the second biggest windmill producer.

"The remarkable growth in China had a significant impact on global market share positioning as most non-Chinese wind turbines were unable to capitalize on growth in this market," MAKE Consulting writes in the new survey.

Only two percentage points separate the top four companies.

Besides Sinovel the three Chinese companies Goldwind, Dongfang and Suzlon are also on the top-10 list, at number 4, 7 and 8 respectively. Out of the top15 companies, seven are Chinese.

Danish Minister Counsellor Soren Jacobsen visited Xiamen recently, meeting Vice-Mayor Zhan Cangzhou to discuss bilateral trade between Denmark and Xiamen. The two reviewed future economic plans for Xiamen, including the construction of a new international airport and new hospitals, which could lead to future business opportunities for Danish companies in the region.

On the same day, March 11, the Danish Chamber of Commerce South China held its annual general meeting in Xiamen. The meeting included a visit to the Danish company MBL, which manufactures standard components for the wheelchair industry and the Chinese company CT Mold.

China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi last week met with former British foreign secretary David Miliband, who is visiting China at the invitation of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs. The two men exchanged views on issues of common concern, including China-UK relations, the situation in West Asia and North Africa and the development direction of the Group of 20.