The EU delegation's deputy head, Carmen Cano, kicks off the People to People photo exhibition on March 1 that will continue for nearly one month at Beijing's Meilidao International Art Institution. The show features comparative portraits of daily life in both China and Europe by Nanjing-based photographer Zhao Hui. Invited VIPs for the opening include Minister Wang Chen from the State Council Information office.

After graduating from university in China, Zhao moved to the United States and spent a decade in New York actively immersing himself in photographical theory and practice, eventually earning jobs for notable clients such as Sony, Minolta and Kodak. "Since achieving significant success in the United States," an EU delegation statement said, "Zhao has made an effort to show the world a different view of China than is seen on television or in the news."

On the 50th anniversary of the post-war friendship treaty between their countries, German Ambassador Michael Schaefer and French Ambassador Sylvie Bermann met in a Phoenix TV studio on Feb 22 to discuss the history and the role of both countries in Europe. The event was moderated by Anthony Yuan. The first part of the show airs on Sunday March 3 at 10 am (and repeats at 6:30 pm); the second part will be broadcast on Sunday, March 10 at the same times.

Governor Mervyn King of the Bank of England and Governor Zhou Xiaochuan of the People's Bank of China met in Beijing last week and said they expect to soon sign a reciprocal three-year renminbi/sterling currency swap arrangement. The arrangement would be used to finance trade and direct investment between the UK and China and to support domestic financial stability should market conditions warrant.

The Czech embassy in Beijing continues its ongoing promotion of Czech crystal this weekend with an exhibition of Atelier Zampach in Beijing. Master crystal craftsman Stanislav Zampach and his team will be at the Atelier showroom in the capital March 1-3 before traveling to Shenzhen for an exhibition March 8-10.

A delegation of Chinese writers, headed by He Jianming, the vice-chairman of the Chinese Writers' Association, recently visited Greece, the Greek embassy in China reported. During a visit to the tomb of famous Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis (1883-1957), He said: "Greece has a splendid ancient civilization and rich resources. I believe that many Chinese writers have a big interest in the natural environment, history and culture of Greece, so there is still much room for improvement of cooperation between the two countries."

Chinese Ambassador Liu Zhenmin told a ministerial-level meeting in Geneva recently that the Chinese government "highly appreciates the Universal Health Coverage" advocated by the World Health organization and has taken health care as one of the core national development goals with the aim of ensuring "Everyone Enjoys Essential Health Service by 2020". Most Chinese citizens have access to essential health services now, Liu explained to WHO's director-general, Dr Margaret Chan, and the assembled ministers. Health insurance programs currently cover 1.3 billion people, or 95 percent of China's population, while the remainders are shielded by a publicly financed emergency relief system.

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

(China Daily 03/01/2013 page31)