Conferences & Meetings \>\> In China

International Conference on E-business and Strategy, Tianjin

The aim is to stimulate the scientific exchange of ideas, identification of trends in e-business technology and communications, and illuminate business opportunities.

Date: Aug 29-31

Venue: Tianjin Hotel

Website: icets.info

19th Beijing International Book Fair

In this exhibition with floor space of 53,600 square meters, the Republic of Korea will be the country of honor. As well as a general publishing zone, there will be zones on digital publishing, children's books, cartoons and animation, periodicals, publishing on demand and library acquisition.

Date: Aug 29-Sept 2

Venue: China International Exhibition Center

Website: www.bibf.net

The China International Fair for Investment and Trade, Xiamen

Themed "Introducing FDI" and "Going global", this event focuses on investment negotiation and policy promotion, coordinated development of national and regional economies and economic and trade exchanges. It aims to facilitate bilateral investment.

Date: Sept 8-11

Venue: Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Center

Website: www.chinafair.org.cn

Conferences & Meetings \>\> In The US

Las Vegas-Asia Expo 2012, Las Vegas

Open to importers, wholesalers, retailers and buyers, particularly those in the US and nearby regions who are keen to know about the latest offers from all-Asian suppliers of general consumer products. The expo is timed to coincide with buyers' sourcing trips to many other trade fairs held concurrently on the West Coast.

Date: Aug 13-15

Venue: Sands Expo & Convention Center

Website: www.asiaexpolasvegas.com

US, China, India Investment, Chicago

Centers on international direct investment and immigrant investment from China and India in the US. The conference aims to help US companies tap foreign capital sources, with the ultimate goal of stimulating the economy and creating jobs in the US.

Date: Aug 23-24

Venue: Embassy Suites Chicago Lakefront hotel

Website: www.prweb.com

Asia America Trade Show, Miami

The show is in its third year of successfully opening up the Latin American and Caribbean markets for exhibiting exporters, wholesalers, distributors, manufacturers, dealers, closeouts and liquidators. It includes three trade shows in one major event on the same date: the general merchandise show, the consumer electronics and wireless show and the apparel trade show.

Date: Sept 11-13

Venue: Miami Beach Convention Center

Website: acsshow.org

Culture \>\> In China

The Von Trapp Children 2012 China Tour

Meet Justin, Amanda, Melanie and Sofia Von Trapp. They are the great-grandchildren of Captain and Maria Von Trapp from The Sound of Music. These Von Trapps have performed all over the world including in Africa, Australia, Austria, Belgium, England, Ireland and South Korea.

Date: July 26-Aug 12

Venue: Selected cities

Website: www.vontrappchildren.com

Run-DMC China Tour, Shanghai

Hip-hop boasts Run-DMC with their vision and attitude, as laid out on their formative albums and singles, serving as a template of rap music for more than two decades.

Date: Aug 18

Venue: Ibiza Club

Website: www.damai.cn

Culture \>\> In The US

Chinese Gardens Pavilions, Studios, Retreats, New York

Features more than 60 paintings as well as ceramics, carved bamboo, lacquerware, metalwork and textiles. The exhibition examines the rich interaction between pictorial and garden arts in China over more than 1,000 years.

Date: Aug 18-Jan 6

Venue: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Website: www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions

Writing about China for Journals, Magazines, Books, and Blogs, Cambridge, Massachusetts

A conversation with Christina Larson and Jeffrey Wasserstrom, editors and experts on Chinese studies.

Date: Sept 18

Venue: Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, Harvard University

Website: fairbank.fas.harvard.edu

Diplomatic pouch

China's Vice-Premier Wang Qi-shan met Dave Heineman, governor of Nebraska, in Beijing on Monday, calling for closer sub-national cooperation between China and the United States.

"I hope the state of Nebraska will further boost cooperation with Chinese provinces and municipalities in trade, investment, finance, culture, tourism and infrastructure," Wang said, adding that the central and federal governments should make efforts to create a favorable environment for sub-national cooperation. Heineman said his state welcomes Chinese investment and is eager to boost cooperation with the Chinese side.

China's Consul General in San Francisco Gao Zhansheng hosted a reception at his residence for the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco, with the city's Mayor Ed Lee as a distinguished guest.

Gao said the chamber successfully hosted the annual Lunar New Year parade, strived for the construction of a new Bay Area Rapid Transit station in Chinatown and the new building of the Chinese Hospital, and promoted the local Chinese community's participation in political affairs.

In his remarks to the group, Lee praised the cooperation between San Francisco and China in the past two years, and said he expects to pay his first official visit to China this year.

Supervisor Carman Chu, Eric Mar, Jane Kim, President of the Civilian Conservation Corps Tony Fong and members of the chamber attended the party.

The staff of China's consulate general in Houston attended the 90-minute program Wind of Colorful Guizhou, during which 48 people performed local dances and sang folk songs about myths and stories of China's ethnic groups. The troupe is now on its third US tour and performed at the University of Houston.

Xie Yunliang, deputy consul general of the Chinese Consulate General in Houston, said the show demonstrated Guizhou people's love for their homeland and hope for the future.

Houston City Council member Helena Brown, who recently returned from a visit to China, also attended and spoke to the crowd of nearly 1,500.

Wind of Colorful Guizhou moves on to performances in Miami and New York.

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

(China Daily 08/03/2012 page23)