By Baron Henri Estramant.  Brunei Darussalam (“The Abode of Peace”) celebrated its 31st National Day, that is, the end of British protection over Brunei that began in 1888. The reception was held at the luxurious Steigenberger Grandhotel located in Brussels upscale “Louizalaan/Avenue Louise”. Hosts were Brunei’s Ambassador to the Benelux countries, Hungary, Permanent Representative to the EU and the OPCW, HE Dato Paduka Haji Serbini binti Haji Ali and his spouse Datin Rafiah Arif. He has served as ambassador since 2010. Emblem of BruneiNegara Brunei Darussalam is one of the worldâs smallest countries with a population of just above 416,000 inhabitants in two unconnected small territories north of Borneo Island in the South China Sea.Brunei is well-endowed with oil and natural gas resources. The state has experienced unprecedented growth since its independence 31 years ago and is classified as an industrialised country. On the human development index, it is listed second in Asia followed by Singapore. In 2011, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) listed Bruneiâs GDP per capita as the fifth highest in the world. The actual National Day is celebrated yearly on 23 February with a large parade taking place in Bandar Seri Begawan; presided over by the country’s sovereign, His Majesty The Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, on the throne since 1967. Â
By Roy Lie A TjamH.E. President John D.Mahama
H.E. Dr. J. Tony Aidoo, Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana, together with fellow Ambassadors, among them the Ambassadors of Portugal, Belarus, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Burundi, India, Tunisia, Croatia, Poland, Algeria, Kazastan, Iran, Kenya, Serbia, Bulgaria and China; dignitaries and the Ghanaian diaspora, celebrated Independence Day 2015 at the Bel Air Hotel on March 6.
Clad in an authentic Ghanaian batakari, Ambassador Aidoo in his welcome remarks extended a heartfelt welcome or âAkwabaâ to all. In his address he highlighted 3 points:
The history of independence from Britain.
Liberation from military rule with applause for the support of the international community.
Ghanaâs advancement on the road towards economic growth. The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre plays a major role in economic development.
H. E. Rose Makena, Ambassador of Kenya and H. E. Dr. J. Tony Aidoo , Ambassador of Ghana.
Simultaneously, back in Accra at Independence Square, or Black star monument, located close to the spot where in 1948 protesters were shot when marching to present a petition to the British Governor, H.E. President John D.Mahama, delivered his annual Independence Day speech on the theme âAchieving Transformation through National Unityâ
Ghana’s independence was inspirational for black communities worldwide because it was the first black African country to become independent from European colonial power. Today Ghana is one of the most developed countries in Africa.
Ghana Tsooboi !
For full photo-album on this event, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157648874571084/Â Â For full photo – album on this event, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157648874571084/
By Baron Henri Estramant,
The Emirate of Sharjah lit up betwen 5 and 13 February to celebrate with florescent lights in all landmarks of the capital the fifth  repetition of “Sharjah Light Festival”
This year celebrates the crowning of the emirate as the “Arab Tourism Capital for 2015”. The emirate was chosen for the prestigious honour by the Arab Tourism Organisation at the 15th session of the Arab Council of Tourism Ministers held in Cairo, Egypt back in 2012.
The selection reaffirmed and recognised Sharjah’s pre-eminent position as the home of Arab and Islamic culture and a tourism destination with a difference. The festival is such an utter success that it now features prominently in the Sharjah tourism calendar by using some of the most advanced and sophisticated lighting techniques, 3D imagery and artistic contributions by internationally acclaimed artists and technical wizards from Europe and the region.
HH The Amir of Sharjah.
The festival was opened ceremoniously by His Highness The Amir of Sharjah and Supreme Council Member of the UAE, Sheikh Dr Sultan III bin Mohammed Al Qasimi who is a reputed erudite, book author and patron of the arts. He was accompanied by one of Sharjah’s two deputy rulers, HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Salim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, and other members of the ruling Qawasem tribe.
Dr Sultan III bin Mohammed bin Saqr bin Khalid bin Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi (b. 2 July 1939) is Sharjah’s 18th ruler since 25 January 1972. Currently he is married to Her Highness Sheikh Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, whose brother and namesake of the sitting Amir is holds the post of “Crown Prince of Sharjah”, HH Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi since 1999.
Sharjah’s Amir as well as the UAE’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan as well as  Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Adviser at the Office of the Ruler of Sharjah, offered their patronage and support to the XII edition of the “Sharjah Biennial (SB12)”, the longest running and one of the most influential contemporary art event in the Gulf, being held this year under the title âThe Past, The Present, The Possible.â The fair is organised by the Sharjah Art Foundation at Al Mareija, Emirate of Sharjah, and runs until 5 June 2015. .
The Emirati ambassador to The Netherlands, HE Mr Abdulla bin Hamdan Alnaqbi as well as the mission’s Third Secretary, Adil bin Sadiq Alamiri, hail from the Emirate of Sharjah.
For more information:Â
HH The Amir of Sharjah:Â www.sheikhdrsultan.ae/portal/en/home.aspx
Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority:Â http://sharjahmydestination.ae/en-us/
Sharjah Biennal:Â www.sharjahart.org/biennial/sharjah-biennial-12/welcome
The Exhibition annex conference took place at the WTC-Plaza The Hague and was organized by the Groningen Confucius Institute, Communication University of China, Municipality of Groningen, RUG, Hanze University, along with some partners (WTC) and sponsors (ICBC) it was held on Thursday 6 Th March 2015.
The welcome address was delivered by Dr.Jingyi Liu, Director of Groningen Confucius Institute. The exhibition is a reflection of the changes in the life o Chinese people since 1979 she stated.
H.E. Mr. Chen Xu, Ambassador of China delivered the opening speech. Ambassador Chen Xu lauded the longstanding Sino-Dutch relation. He also referred to the many ways China could benefit from the Dutch and vice versa. Dutch practicality he said is making my life in the Netherlands easy.
For full photo-album for this event please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157650789969789/
The keynote speech was delivered by Mr. Peter den Ouden, Mayor of Groningen. Den Ouden announced Groningen will be opening a China Euro Business Centre soon. Groningen is proud to host two conferences on China this year. Further, Mayor Den Ouden is envisage visiting China in April 2015
H.E. Ambassador Chen Xu and Mayor Peter den Ouden subsequently officially opened the conference/Exhibition. Other speaker at the plenary session where: Mr. Jan Siemons NCH, Mr.Rien Segers, Hanze univ, Mr. Liu Yinghua China univ. of communications. Further Mr. Wonder Wang of Huawei and Li Feng of ICBC Amsterdam.
After visiting the expo and a lunch break the conference continued.
Advertisement plays an important role in gauging the development of a nation. 30 years ago consumersâ goods such as watches and radios were in demand in China. Today the Chinese consumer talks about; air conditioners, PC, Vila and fancy cars.
The exhibition and conference attracted people not only from the Netherlands but also from Belgium, Gemany, France and other countries. It certainly was a successful conference/exhibition.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels has launched the year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of its establishment.Â
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Ms Linda Lai, Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union toasted to the “Year of the Ram” (Sheep or Goat as Chinese only has one word for all three animals) as well as the launch of a year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels at a reception on 3 March 2015 at Brussels Albert Hall.Â
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Guest of honour was Belgiumâs Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Employment, Mr Kris Peeters, former Minister-President of Flanders between 2007 and 2014.Â
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Other VIPs who attended the event were European Commissioner for Competition, Ms Margrethe Vestager,  Ms Yang Yan-yi, Ambassador of the Peopleâs Republic of China to the European Union,  Mr Qu Xing, Ambassador of the Peopleâs Republic of China to the Kingdom of Belgium,  Mr Piet Steel, Chairman of the Belgium-Hong Kong Society and Mr David Marsden, Director, UK, Benelux and Ireland, HKTDC.Â
âThe European Union is a very important partner for Hong Kong. Despite the many changes and turbulence in the global economy in the past few decades, Hong Kongâs relationship with Europe has grown only stronger, extending from trade and economic ties to cooperation on all fronts. To celebrate the friendship between Europe and Hong Kong, our office will organise a series of activities to mark our 50th anniversaryâ, said Ms Linda Lai. Some of the highlights include a special Hong Kong Martial Arts Film Programme at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (April 7-19), the Oxfam Trailwalker in Belgium (August 29-30) and the Port of Antwerp Dragon Boat Festival (September 12).Â
Ms Lai was spoke at the HKETO, Brusselsâ annual Chinese New Year reception, which was co-hosted by the Belgium-Hong Kong Society, a member of the Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide, and with the support of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The reception has become a highlight of the Brussels diplomatic and social calendar and was attended by over 400 ambassadors, officials from the Belgian Government and the European Commission, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), business people, media representatives, and members of the local Hong Kong community.
On relations with Belgium, Ms Lai noted that it was the first country to sign a comprehensive double taxation agreement with Hong Kong. Belgium was also one of the first EU member states to have an investment promotion and protection agreement with Hong Kong. âAnd just about a year ago, Belgium was the partner of Hong Kongâs Business of Design Week (BoDW), a major international exhibition and conference event bringing together some of the worldâs most outstanding design masters and influential business figures,â she added.Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium, Mr Kris Peeters, who accompanied HM Queen Mathilde of the Belgians as one of the leaders of the high-level delegation that attended BoDW in 2013, said that Belgiumâs first relations with Hong Kong dated back to 1845, just 15 years after the Belgian state was founded. âThese contacts received a great boost when the Hong Kong Office was established in Brusselsâ, he said. Mr. Peeters also welcomed the fact that Belgiumâs exports to Hong Kong were going from strength to strength, increasing by 10.4% in 2014. He said exports of diamonds, Belgiumâs major export to Hong Kong, had increased by 6.1%.Giving a vote of thanks to the speakers, the Chairman of the Belgium-Hong Kong Society, Mr. Piet Steel, said that over a year after Belgium was the partner country at BoDW, the âBelgian Spiritâ could still be felt in Hong Kong and Belgian creators and companies continued to seize business opportunities. The Belgium-Hong Kong Society would be delighted to support the HKETO, Brussels in its 50th anniversary celebrations.The reception included a lively lion dance performance, and as a highlight, Hong Kong artist Hoi Chiu gave a much-admired live sand painting performance telling the story of the establishment of HKETO, Brussels and the ties of friendship between Hong Kong and the EU.
By Catherine A. Dailey.
Three weeks ago, the Embassy Bar at Worldhotel Bel Air was the Valentineâs Day venue for yet another memorable evening of jazz classics in one of the cityâs finest jazz âclubs.â Talented tenor saxophonist, Floriaan Wempe, together with vocalist Sanne Mans, performed swinging jazz favorites in an intimate lounge setting. Luciano Poli (contrabass) and Richie Reichgelt (guitaar) completed the quartet.
The live jazz performance capped a full weekend of entertainment at the hotel, which began with a âscreeningâ of the romantic comedy âSmoorverliefd,â a Dutch film, which was, in part, filmed at the Worldhotel Bel Air. On Saturday evening, guests were treated to a three coarse âNorth Seaâ (seafood) dinner in âRestaurant Purple,â one of the hotelâs three restaurants. Cupidâs âchocolate passionâ dessert, pictured here, completed the dining segment of the program, after which guests were invited downstairs to the Embassy Bar for music.
Sanne Mans gave an exceptional performance to a full house of jazz enthusiasts. Mans, a talented young newcomer to the local jazz scene, graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague in 2010. In addition to live solo performances, she gives private voice lessons in The Hague, is the choir conductor for two choirs and, since 2014, has appeared with Amsterdamâs famous âZo! Gospel Choir.â She can regularly be seen performing with some of the most well known names in the local and international jazz world. Visit her website for a complete list of her upcoming performances.
Since last September, jazz aficionados have been invited to experience âFor the First Timeâ premier jazz program at the âBel Air Jazz Clubâ, where live jazz can be heard monthly on Sunday afternoons from 4-6 pm in the Embassy Bar. Tickets, including the first drink, are just ⏠12,50 for a two hour program of outstanding jazz music.
Donât miss the next Bel Air Jazz Club event scheduled for Sunday, March 22nd. The complete schedule and information on ordering tickets can be found on the website. Of course, it is always possible, and heartily suggested, to enjoy dinner at the Restaurant Purple, following the program. Restaurant Purpleâs Chef-Cook, Mike Meijer, has prepared a special menu featuring Schnitzel Stroganoff, baby potatoes and green beans especially for Bel Air Jazz Club guests for just ⏠10,00! Check the website or call the âJazz Deskâ at +31 (0)70 352 5354 to order your tickets and book your table today!