Conferences & Meetings \>\> In China

19th Beijing International Book Fair

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

China Franchise Expo, Shanghai

Provides a platform for franchisers from around the world to showcase brands and concepts, and to give demonstrations practices. It also offers a place for Chinese investors to seek business opportunities.

Date: Sept 15-17

Venue: Shanghai International Exhibition Center

Website: www.chinafranchiseexpo.com

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

Run-DMC China Tour, Shanghai

Hip-hop boasts Run-DMC with their vision and attitude, as laid out on their formative albums and singles.

Date: Aug 18

Venue: Ibiza Club

Website: www.damai.cn

Marina Lomazov Piano Recitals

The Ukrainian-American pianist has performed throughout North America, South America, England, France, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia and Japan.

Date: Aug 16-27

Venue: Selected cities

Website: www.wupromotion.com/en/events/details/87

Dancing Show: The Thousand-hand Bodhisattva, Beijing

Twenty-one hearing impaired dancers recreate the image of the thousand-hand bodhisattva, a traditional Chinese goddess.

Dates: Sept 29 -Oct 2

Venue: Beijing Exhibition Theater

Website: www.theatrebeijing.com

Culture \>\> In the US

Masters of Adornment: The Miao People of China, Santa Ana, California

These objects reveal hundreds of years of Miao history and tradition and the patience and dedication to achieve beauty.

Date: On display

Venue: The Bowers Museum

Website: www.bowers.org

On the Silk Road and the High Seas: Chinese Ceramics, Culture and Commerce, Dallas

Proto-porcelain was called "white gold", especially in the West. Comprising more than 60 objects, the exhibition reveals why Chinese ceramics were so desirable at home and abroad.

Date: Sept 1-Jan 27

Venue: The Crow Collection of Asian Art

Website: www.crowcollection.org

Diplomatic pouch

Envoys of China and the United States and Poland's President Bronislaw Komorowski unveiled a plaque in Warsaw on Monday commemorating the meetings at the ambassadorial level between Beijing and Washington before they established diplomatic ties in 1979, Xinhua reported.

The talks in Warsaw between China and the US from 1958 to 1970, when the two countries did not have diplomatic relations, are a great undertaking in the history of world diplomacy, Chinese Ambassador to Poland Sun Yuxi said at a ceremony in the Myslewicki Palace, the venue of the meetings. US Ambassador to Poland Lee Feinstein also attended.

The Women's National Basketball Association players Kiesha Brown and Tamika Raymond traveled to Shenyang, Liaoning province, this summer to coach youngsters in the fine points of playing basketball and to emphasize the importance of keeping fit and eating healthy food.

As US sports envoys, Brown and Raymond spent more than a week in China, leading several basketball clinics and life-skills discussions for girls from underprivileged areas. Participants ranged from primary-school to secondary-school age.

China's consul general in New York, Sun Guoxiang, opened a photo exhibition at the Asian Art Gallery in New York on July 31 titled Tibet: Sacred Land of Snows.

"The photographs on display today were selected from entries submitted by photographers from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, who participated in a project called Capturing Tibet in 24 Hours." Gao said the show is "a wonderful way to showcase today's Tibet, its natural beauty, the life of its people and the changes it is experiencing".

Carina Klein, cultural affairs officer for the US consulate general in Shanghai, led four student panelists in a discussion for 40 students and parents about studying abroad in the US last month during the third and final Shanghai pre-departure orientation. The panel, composed of three American student interns and one returned Chinese student, discussed classroom culture, campus life, financial aid, travel and tips on how to clear customs on arrival in the US.

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

(China Daily 08/10/2012 page23)