Genocide recalled at embassy gallery

Francois Ngarambe, Rwandan ambassador to China, hosted the 18th commemoration of genocide against the Tutsi people on Wednesday at the embassy.

Guests at the reception toured a specially created genocide gallery, with images documenting the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in approximately 100 days. See video at chinadaily.com.cn/video.

Rwandan Ambassador Francois Ngarambe (right) greets a guest at a genocide memorial ceremony. [Zhang Xiao / China Daily]

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US Ambassador to China Gary Locke met Baidu employees earlier this month, when he saluted the Internet giant's success under his host, Baidu CEO Li Yanhong.

"You're making it possible for all the people of China to take advantage of information that's available over the Internet. I believe that the Internet is a transformational mechanism that is changing people's lives," Locke said. "I'm in awe of you. You can sense the brain power in this room, and it's kind of scary. I don't know what you're going to invent or come up with next."

Locke, Li and event organizer Kaiser Kuo visited an exhibit room and saw the US patent that was issued to Li in the 1990s.

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The opera singer Carla Dirlikov began her recent visit to China with two days in Hangzhou, where she gave a master class to more than 200 students at the Music School of Hangzhou Normal University. Dirlikov performed recitals throughout China under the auspices of the US embassy.

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Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping met with Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa in Beijing on April 6, urging a boost in growth of the two countries' strategic partnership. At the invitation of Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Espinosa visited China for four days, and attended the fifth meeting of the China-Mexico Intergovernmental Standing Committee.

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To celebrate the Danish EU Presidency 2012, the Royal Danish Embassy in Beijing will host a Climate Race on Sunday April 22 - using biking to promote green transportation and solutions. About 150 participants from Danish companies, media, Chinese officials and other EU embassies will join the Earth Day bike ride in and around Beijing.

Denmark is world-famous for its urban biking culture: In Copenhagen more than 36 percent of the population commutes on a daily basis by bike and there are more than 390 kilometers of designated bike lanes.

The Beijing cycling event will raise funds for local Chinese organizations working with environment and bicycle advocacy, says Danish Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen. The event is also designed to encourage the Chinese public to go "back to biking" and utilize the bicycle as a means of everyday transportation instead of cars.

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Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard recently announced that her government plans to open a consulate-general in Chengdu, the capital of China's Sichuan province.

The announcement came as Australia and the People's Republic of China celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations this year.

Australia currently has consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, in addition to the embassy in Beijing, and Gillard said broadening Australia's diplomatic presence in China was a priority for the government as the "Asian Century" unfolded.

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Pakistan's Ambassador to China Masood Khan and his wife, Zohra, hosted a reception for diplomats, officials and business executives on Thursday at the Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel to celebrate the National Day of Pakistan. VIP guests included China's Transport Minister Li Shenglin and Deputy Foreign Minister Fu Ying.

The ambassador presented a special award, the Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam, on behalf of Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari to two Chinese dignitaries for their contributions to strengthen Pakistan-China relations. They were Yuan Jianmin, head of Xinjiang Liaison Office of the China Council for International Investment Promotion, and Yang Jiemian, president of the Shanghai Institute of International Studies.

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China's new ambassador to Malta, Cai Jinbiao, paid his courtesy call to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi at the end of March. Malta is one of several countries celebrating 40 years of diplomatic relations with China this year, and Cai said he looked forward with strong confidence. Gonzi warmly welcomed the ambassador to Malta, promising that his country was ready to further strengthen relations with China, particularly in the fields of financial service and education.

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