Conferences & Meetings \>\> In China

International Petroleum Technology Conference, Beijing

The conference and exhibition, which rotates between the Asia Pacific and the Middle East, addresses technology and other issues that challenge industry professionals and management around the world.

Date: March 26 - 28

Venue: Beijing International Convention Centre

Website: www.iptcnet.org/2013

International Conference on Manufacturing Science and Engineering, Dalian

A forum to present new advances and research results in the fields of manufacturing science and engineering. The conference will bring together leading researchers, engineers and scientists from around the world.

Date: March 30 - 31

Venue: Selected places

Website: www.icmse.net

Global Spine Congress, Hong Kong

Features multilingual sessions and world-renowned speakers as well as special symposiums conducted by spine specialists from across the Asia Pacific region.

Date: April 4 - 6

Venue: Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Centre

Website: www.globalspinecongress.org

International Symposium on Corporate Responsibility & Sustainable Development, Guangzhou

Topics include: the tensions between respect for the natural environment, social justice, and economic development; the long view versus short-term imperatives; the competing priorities of north and south, east and west; and the separate agendas of business, consumers, communities, civil society and government.

Date: April 9 - 12

Venue: Guangdong University of Foreign Studies

Website: www.cr-sd.org

Real Estate Investment World China, Shanghai

A range of topics including business models, capital sources and investment strategies will be discussed at this real estate development, investment and finance forum for developers, investors, funds and asset managers.

Date: April 15 - 18

Venue: The Ritz Carlton Shanghai

Website: terrapinn.com

China International Software Cooperation Conference, Chengdu

Attended by key players in China's software industry, the event showcases products and research, and offers networking opportunities within the high-tech industry.

Date: April 10-13

Venue: New Century International Conference Centre

Website: www.chinasoft.org.cn

China-CIMT China International Machine Tool show, Beijing

First held in 1989, this is the largest machine tool show in China and one of the four biggest internationally. It serves as a major event for machine tool sourcing and as a trading platform for this global industry.

Date: April 22-27

Venue: China International Exhibition Center (new venue)

Website: www.cimtshow.com/enshow.shtml

Beijing International Technology Transfer Congress 2013

Focusing on technology transfer and international technology cooperation, the theme for this year's event is "Beyond the Borders: Drive Innovation to Win". The congress will feature 40 distinguished speakers from over 30 countries and around 300 attendees including overseas technology managers and Chinese professionals.

Date: April 24-27

Venue: Beijing International Hotel Convention Centre

Website: www.britishchamber.cn

Conferences & Meetings \>\> In the US

Business debate: China short and long, New York

The well-known short-seller and hedge fund manager Jim Chanos of Kynikos Associates, and Stephen Roach, senior fellow at Yale University's Jackson Institute of Global Affairs will conduct a two-hour debate on whether or not China's fast growing economy is poised to crash.

Date: March 27

Venue: 725 Park

Website: asiasociety.org

China Goes Global: The Partial Power, with David Shambaugh, Northern California

China scholar David Shambaugh talks about his new book China Goes Global. The book delves deep into China's extensive commercial footprint, growing military power, increasing cultural influence and diplomatic activity, and new prominence in multilateral institutions.

Date: April 4

Venue: Nixon Peabody

Website: asiasociety.org/northern-california

Culture \>\> In China

The Jefferson Dancers, Tianjin

The company's diverse repertoire includes over 100 works of modern, tap, ballet, jazz, African, ethnic, and musical theatre, choreographed by nationally recognized choreographers.

Date: March 24

Venue: Tianjin Grand Theatre

Website: www.tjgtheatre.com

Face to Face: Portraits and Interiors, Chinese Dutch Painting Exhibition, Beijing

An exhibition focused on one of the most traditional subjects in art history: portraits and interiors. Both are among the most intriguing subjects in the history of visual art and have a long tradition in Dutch as well as Chinese painting.

Date: till March 30

Venue: Today Art Museum

Website: www.todayartmuseum.com

Diplomatic pouch

China's outgoing Consul-General Gao Zhansheng and his wife, Consul Wang Yanlai, held a farewell reception in their residence on March 12. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, who will visit China in April, recalled when he and Gao became friends and all the "historical and funny moments" they spent together. "China has changed a lot during the past five years, for the good," Lee said. "I look forward to more opportunities for cooperation between San Francisco and China when I go to Beijing next month." Lee also announced that March 12 would be "Ambassador Gao Zhansheng Day" in San Francisco.

Other guests at the reception included Assessor-Recorder Carmen Chu, supervisors Eric Ma and Katy Tang, Piedmont Mayor John Chiang, Daly City Mayor Raymond Buenaventura, Alameda Mayor Marie Gilmore, representatives of foreign missions and about 300 other friends of the consulate.

The week also included a farewell party hosted by the Chinese community in Sacramento, and a meeting with California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom. The US consulate in Chengdu will use its English Corner lecture next week to mark the sesquicentennial of a watershed political event in the United States. "Lincoln to Obama: The 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation", will be presented by Rick Foristel, director of Webster University. In addition to its weekly English lecture, the consulate hosts a monthly movie night with a significant American film.

The US embassy's streamlined visa-application process in China went into effect on March 16. The new system aims to provide better customer service and to cost the Chinese visa applicants much less. Applicants will only pay the existing, unchanged, visa-processing fee of $160 for most nonimmigrant visa types. People will also be able to use a new online system to make visa interview appointments and to check on the status of their applications.

Chinese Consul General for Houston Xu Erwen recently met with attorney and real estate investor George P. Bush in his Fort Worth office. Bush, who is a candidate for Texas land commissioner, is the eldest son of former Florida governor Jeb Bush and a grandson of former US president George H.W. Bush. Xu commended the younger Bush for his family's longtime contributions to improving China-US relations.

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

(China Daily 03/22/2013 page23)