Conferences & Meetings \>\> In China

Education in a Brave New World, Hong Kong

Through globalization, advancement of information technology and development of knowledge-based economies, education in the 21st century has evolved in both substance and method. In the face of rapid economic development as well as the impact of global economic restructuring, what are some of the worldwide trends of education and how has it changed our concepts of education? What are the consequences of this? How can educators adapt or take advantage of these changes, or should they be resisted? How will this shape our educational institutions as well as our education policies?

Date: Feb 23

Venue: 9 Justice Drive, Admiralty, Hong Kong

Website: www. asiasociety.org

International Trade Show for Sports Equipment and Fashion, Beijing

A trade event to generate success in the booming outdoor, snow-sports and sports fashion markets - for retailers, brands, distributors, rep groups, athletes and media.

Date: Feb 27 - March 2

Venue: China National Convention Center

Website: www.ispo.com/beijing/en/All-Sports

Conferences & Meetings \>\> In the US

Asia's Rise and the Future of the US as a Pacific Power, San Francisco

Over the past decade, America's diplomatic, military and strategic resources have mainly centered on the Middle East and South Asia.

With the US having withdrawn from Iraq and the military campaign in Afghanistan set to wind down by 2014, the Obama administration has signaled a strategic "pivot" toward the Asia-Pacific in an effort to reassert US influence in the region.

What obstacles does the US policy shift face? How are Asian countries responding? Is the US pivot purely a strategic push to rebalance a rising China? What will US policy in Asia look like during Obama's second term as US president?

Date: Feb 26

Venue: Asia Society Northern California, 500 Washington St. Ste 350, San Francisco

Website: www.asiasociety.org

Innovations in Biologics Discovery and Development, San Diego

The SABPA Science & Technology Forum XI brings together leaders in the academic and pharma/biotech industries to discuss current trends in biologics discovery and development, as well as challenges facing the field. The presentations will address new technologies in discovering novel biologic therapeutics.

Date: March 23

Venue: Institute of Americas, UCSD

Website: www.sabpa.org

SWIFT Operations Forum - Americas 2013, New York

Speakers from JP Morgan, Microsoft Corporation and State Street will talk about: how to harness technology to its full potential; which regulatory changes are likely to have the greatest impact on technology; how firms can get greater benefit from industry-shared services; and the rapidly changing world of payments.

Date: March 5

Venue: Sentry Centers , 730 Third Avenue, 17th Floor, New York

Website: www.swift.com/events

Culture \>\> In China

Free Lantern Festival at Sanlitun, Beijing

On Feb 24 (the 15th day of first month of the lunar calendar), MY Chinese Study invites expats who live in Beijing to experience a traditional Chinese festival.

Here you can taste glutinous rice balls, solve puzzles and play party games.

Date: Feb 24, 3pm - 5pm

Venue: Room 3-323, 3/F, Retail Building No 3, Sanlitun SOHO, 8 Gongtibeilu, Chaoyang District

Adam Lambert Shanghai Concert 2013 Presented by Hennessy V.S.O.P, Shanghai

The former American Idol finalist and rock and pop icon will make his China solo concert debut with an explosive stage show and electrifying live performance.

Date: March 3

Venue: Mercedes-Benz Arena

Website: en.piao.com.cn/shanghai

ShanghART H-Space, Foundational Work, Shanghai

ShanghART Gallery announces the group exhibition, Foundational Work, featuring artists Zhang Enli, Li Shan, Ding Yi, Zhou Tiehai , PU Jie, Wu Yiming, Yu Youhan and Sun Xun.

Foundational Work focuses on a variety of attitudes, strategies and aesthetic choices that are connected with the foundations and specificity of paintings.

The exhibition will attempt to present an open-ended status report, with the majority of the displayed work, created in 2012, focused on a multitude of loose themes and influences with the fundamental elements of painting and how they are currently being explored and reworked at its core.

Date: March 8 - April 14

Venue: ShanghART H-Space, Bldg 18, No 50 Moganshan Rd., Shanghai

Website: www.shanghartgallery.com

American Ballet Theater Mixed Repertory, Beijing

American Ballet Theater is recognized as one of the great dance companies in the world. The witty, romantic piano etudes of Virgil Thomson are echoed in Mark Morris' valentine to classical ballet. From voluptuous, rippling torsos and arms to a majestic tableaux of heart-stopping beauty, this inventive ballet is pure pleasure.

Venue: National Center for the Performing Arts

Dates: March 6-March 7

Website: www.chncpa.org

Culture \>\> In the US

Picasso Black and White, Houston

Picasso Black and White, the first major exhibition to focus on the artist's lifelong exploration of a black-and-white palette, features paintings, sculptures, and works on paper from 1904 to 1971.

The exhibition offers new and striking insights into Picasso's vision and working methods.

The chronological presentation includes significant loans-many of which have not been exhibited or published before-drawn from museums, private collactions, and public collections across Europe and the United States, including numerous works from the Picasso family.

Date: Feb 24 - May 27

Venue: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet St., Houston, TX 77005, Law Building, Second Floor

Website: www.houstonmuseumdistrict.org

Diplomatic pouch

The Chinese embassy in Washington, in collaboration with the Meridian International Center, recently held the 3rd "Happy Chinese Lunar New Year: The Night of Chinese Cuisine" celebration in the historic Meridian House. Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yesui hosted the event with former Missouri governor James Blanchard, Meridian chairman of the board, and former ambassador Stuart Holliday, Meridian's president and CEO. More than 400 people from the US administration, Congress, think tanks, the business community and cultural organizations sampled cuisine from five major regions in China prepared by the embassy's chefs. The local Wudang Taoists' kung fu performance won applause from the audience, which also got to see Chinese ancient and modern silk in a fashion show with 12 US models on the catwalk.

On her recent trip to Georgia, Chinese Consul-General for Houston Xu Erwen visited former US president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, at the Carters' hometown in Plains. Consul Zhou Yujiang and Vice-Consul Lu Chenxi were also greeted by the Carters. Xu thanked Carter for his invitation and applauded the former president on his significant contributions to the development of China-US relations.

Carter said he was delighted to witness the improvement of the US-China relationship since diplomatic relations were established while he was in the White House 34 years ago. Carter has visited China many times since he left office.

US ambassador Gary Locke announced last week that the embassy and all consulates that issue visas are implementing a new visa appointment, fee payment and document delivery system starting on March 16. The change will make it easier for applicants to schedule visa interview appointments, pay visa processing fees, and check on the status of their issued visas. Applicants will only pay the existing, unchanged, visa processing fee of $160 for most non-immigrant visa types. Previously, in addition to the processing fee, applicants faced additional costs for scheduling appointments and arranging for the return of their passports. Applicants can pay online using any debit card issued in China or a credit card issued abroad. Applicants will also be able to use a new online system to make visa interview appointments and to check on the status of their applications.

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

(China Daily 02/22/2013 page23)