By Roy Lie A Tjam.   At the conclusion of the 3^rd session of the 12^th National People’s Congress on March 15 2015, Premier Li Keqiang of China gave a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Premier Li Keqing started by applauding the approximately 900 foreign- and Chinese journalists. “Friends from the press, ladies and gentlemen, you have made tremendous efforts to cover the NPC and CPPCC sessions. The two sessions have come to a close, but your work has not. Today is Sunday yet you cannot take the day off. I want to use this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to you all. Now I would be happy to answer your questions” Here are two extracts from the press conference.   Financial Times: Last year, China’s real estate market was on the decline. This prompted a large number of Chinese nationals to start buying homes overseas. Chinese customers have become the largest group of homebuyers in New York, Sydney and London and this has significantly driven up local home prices. Hence some people have called into question the legitimacy of the money spent on buying these homes overseas. Are you concerned about the possible backlash to such massive home buying by Chinese overseas? And will the Chinese government introduce new policy measures to boost the domestic real estate market this year?   Premier Li Keqing: China is advancing the renminbi’s full convertibility under the capital account. This shows that China is taking further steps to open up the capital market. You talked about the phenomenon of large numbers of Chinese buying homes overseas and said that they have become the largest home buyers in a number of key international metropolises. I suppose that more evaluations need to be done here as to whether that is true. As far as I’m concerned, I am not in possession of solid information about this. But what I know is that China is still the largest destination of the inflow of foreign direct investment, which now stands at $120 billion. At the same time, the Chinese government will also encourage Chinese companies and Chinese nationals to go overseas to invest and do business. In doing so, these Chinese companies and Chinese nationals need to abide by China’s relevant laws and regulations and also observe the local laws. You have a Westerner’s face but you speak Chinese so well. I wonder if you have bought a home in China – you are welcome to do so. China is still a large developing country. Housing is not just an economic issue but also one that concerns people’s livelihood. The Chinese government needs to meet the basic housing needs of low-income people around the country. And the government will take more steps this year to rebuild rundown urban areas and dilapidated homes in urban and rural areas. The plan for such efforts this year is to increase building and rebuilding rundown areas and dilapidated homes – by 1 million units respectively. The Chinese government is responsible for providing everyday necessities in terms of housing for our people. The real estate market is governed by its own laws. China is such a large country with vast land. In this country, there are mega cities and medium and small-size cities as well as small townships. And the conditions of these different cities and townships vary significantly from one to another. Hence the central government has requested the local governments to exercise their responsibilities concerning regulating local real estate markets. And differentiated policies need to be adopted in the light of local conditions. At the same time, urbanization continues to pick up speed in China which means that housing demand in China is here to stay. We also encourage Chinese people to buy homes for their personal use or as their second home. We hope to see a steady and sound growth of China’s real estate markets in the long term.   Korean Broadcasting System: China’s CPI rise was at just about 1.5 percent in the past few months – and in January the figure was near 0.8 percent. So are we to conclude that China entered deflation? Some people also argue that China is exporting deflation to other parts of the world and that it has also affected the Republic of Korea, what is your response?   Premier Li Keqing: About deflation, there are multiple criteria in evaluating deflation in the world. A major criterion is the consecutive negative growth of overall consumer prices in the country. Regarding CPI, last January we had positive growth. And the figure of February further increased. So I don’t think we are facing deflation in China. Recently, consumer prices in China have been quite low, but China is not exporting deflation to other parts of the world. The truth is, China is at the receiving end of deflation. Let me give you an example: Last year, China imported 310 million metric tons of crude oil and about 930 million tons of iron ore from the international market. The physical volume increased but the price declined because of the tumble in international commodity prices – and we are prepared to cope with such a situation. At the same time, we hope to see a quicker global economic recovery – and the global economy will regain momentum for robust growth.   Messages highlighted by the premier: Cut red tape to help businesses and ease downward pressure on the economy. E-commerce can help create jobs. Self-discipline among civil servants and “rule by law” can help reduce corruption. China has many tools in its box to create steady economic growth during the downturn, but he did not elaborate. Encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship can help invigorate the economy. A visit by President Xi Jinping to the United States later this year can help improve Sino-US relations. The 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War will be a chance for a turnaround in Sino-Japanese ties. China is still a developing nation and should not be considered a developed country.  

  By Mete Erdurcan.   On the occasion of Navruz ‘The Holiday of Spring, renewal and peace’ the Uzbek Embassy organized a reception on 18^th March at the Arsenaal Building of Leiden University. Navruz is a holiday celebrated in Central Asian countries around 21^st March each year, including Uzbekistan. Navruz has a history over 2500 years. in 2009 it was officially recognised by the UN as an  ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’.   For a full photo-album of the event, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157651104492879/   Navruz is celebrated throughout Uzbekistan, and especially in Tashkent, where grand celebrations are held at the Alisher Navoi National Park. The common belief is that Navruz sets the precedent for the upcoming year. Activities include festivities with songs, dances and performances, in addition to the sports competitions.   During the reception in Leiden, His Excellency Vladimir Norov gave a speech in which he explained the socio-economic prosperity of Uzbekistan since its independence. The Ambassador also took a moment to express his gratitude to Leiden University and in particular to Dr. Gabrielle van den Berg and Dr. Elena Paskaleva for ‘their assistance in organizing this event and their significant efforts to develop mutually beneficial cooperation in education between Leiden University and Uzbekistan’.  

  By Mete Erdurcan.   Her Excellency, Ms. Orsolya Szijjártó , Ambassador of Hungary to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, held a reception on the 17^th of March to commemorate the 167^th anniversary of the 1848 revolution, which eventually led to an independence war against the Habsburg Monarch. The reception took place at the Hungarian Embassy located in Scheveningen. There were guests from the Hungarian community, diplomats and Dutch friends.   Her Excellency Ms. Orsolya Szijjártó was delighted to read a message from the Prime-Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán, which was specially addressed to the Hungarian diaspora. In her speech the Ambassador also mentioned the famous words of the 12 points of the Hungarian March revolution, in Hungarian referred to as the ‘Nemzeti Dal’ poem by Sándor Petőfi. The poem underlines the importance of freedom, peace and unity.   The Ambassador was honoured to present Ms. Christina von Coerper-Buzay and Mr. Flórián Farkas the Gold Cross of Merit of Hungary medal, awarded by Mr. János Áder, President of the Republic of Hungary. Ms. Christina von Coerper-Buzay received the medal for her charitable work in the Carpathian Basin, and Mr. Flórián Farkas for his decade-long endeavours for the enhancement of the Hungarian culture and social research in the Netherlands.              

  The theme of the 28th Japanese Public Speaking Contest, organized by the Embassy of Japan, was ‘What I like about Japan and don’t like so much about Japan’. Some twenty participants with or without a background in Japanese studies had 5 minutes to speak about Japanese cultural elements that they are attracted to and about aspects of Japan that they fancy less. An expert panel headed by the Ambassador of Japan judged who presented the most original and well-structured speech in fluent Japanese. The winners received wonderful prizes handed to them by representatives of the sponsoring companies, including a trip to Japan with home-stay, digital cameras, dinner tickets, cultural goods, etc. The speech contest was held on Saturday March 7th, 2015 at the Bel Air Hotel in The Hague. The event was open to the public. Over one hundred people enjoyed the speeches and the wonderful atmosphere.  

Mr. Stephan van der Meulen, General Manager of Worldhotel Bel Air.   New Zealand Ambassador Janet Lowe was delighted to be present at the Volvo Ocean Race party in Worldhotel Bel Air The Hague. On 8^th March the Worldhotel Bel Air – official hotel partner of the Volvo Ocean Race Festival The Hague – hosted a party with the New Zealand Ambassador to the Netherlands Janet Lowe to celebrate the departure of the Volvo Ocean Race boats from Auckland. The plan was to watch the boats live on TV as they sailed out of Auckland harbour to their next destination Itajai in Brazil.  However due to bad weather caused by Cyclone Pam (which wrecked havoc in Vanuatu) the race organisers sensibly decided to postpone the departure date.  As Ambassador Lowe said, “This is the Volvo Ocean Race not the Ocean Survival Race!”.  

  Regarding the Auckland stopover, the Ambassador noted: “New Zealand is a sailing nation.  Be it as a hobby, lifestyle or career, New Zealanders have a strong affinity with the sea. You can hardly drive an hour in our country without hitting the coast, and Kiwis can be found sailing all over the world.  Abel Tasman (who ‘discovered’ New Zealand) and James Cook were the first to reach our island country from Europe on sailing ships.  And Auckland, which is known as the “City of Sails”, has more boats per capita than any city in the world.  New Zealanders are therefore delighted to be hosting the Volvo Ocean Race once again”.  

  Dutch Volvo Ocean Race media manager Diana Bogaards gave a fascinating presentation on the history and background of the Volvo Ocean Race and the special features of the current race that departed from Alicante, Spain, in October 2014.  “There is no prize money. It’s all about the sport  and the honour and glory of winning”, she said.  One of the guests was Hermann Megenthaler, who sailed for Mexico in the 1984 Olympic Games.   Meanwhile the departure from Auckland has taken place on Tuesday 17 March with all the boats leaving safely for Itajai, Brazil. For a full photo-album of the event, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157649097288433/                              

  By Roy Lie A Tjam.   What was to be a joyous celebration of Tunisian national pride in The Hague turned into a bittersweet commemoration as a terrorist attack hit the prestigious Bardo Museum in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, on Wednesday March 18. Over twenty individuals, many of them tourists, lost their lives amidst the carnage. Never before has Tunisia experienced such a brutal attack on its own soil. For full photo-album of the event, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157651055630490/   The following day, an extensive number of Ambassadors, judges and senior civil servants attended the National Day event and gave their solidarity and support to H.E. Karim Ben Becher, Ambassador for Tunisia. The Tunisian Ambassador is a distinguished member of the Diplomatic Corps in the Netherlands; a man known for his fidelity and friendliness. In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Karim Ben Becher, thanked all those who have sent messages of encouragement and solidarity. Furthermore, he explained his country’s determination to continue on the road it has embarked upon since the Jasmine Revolution several years ago-the road of full democracy.     Tunisia will not be deterred by a terrorist attack and remains adamant that the security of its people and of visitors will be guaranteed. The Tunisian-born former Mayor of Paris, Mr. Bertrand Delanoe, declared that the attacks in Paris, Copenhagen and Tunis are attacks against human dignity. The Bardo museum is expected to reopen next Tuesday.    

  By Roy Lie A Tjam. Pilgrimage to Mecca was the theme chosen for the afternoon soiree organised by the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia with Aramco Overses Company, H.E. Ambassador Mr. Abdul-Aziz Abohaimed, and Aramco Overseas Company’s Managing Director, Mr. Fahad Abdulkareem , started at the Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde (the Dutch National Museum for World Cultures) with the inauguration of a permanent “Pilgrimage to Mecca” gallery in the museum on Tuesday March 17.   For a photo-album of the event, please click open here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157651461022311/   Subsequently, at the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden, Mr. Stroomer, a linguist, gave a lecture regarding inscriptions on “Palm sticks”. The evening proceeded with the very lively Leiden-Aramco Lecture on Ancient Arabian Civilization: “Ancient Arabia: Forgotten Civilizations at the Heart of the Ancient Near East” by Michael Macdonald of Oxford University. On a same note, the launch of the LeiCenSAA, Leiden Center for the Study of Ancient Arabica, under the eminent directorship of Dr. Achmed Al-Jallad took place. The evening concluded with a reception.

Ambassador Rustamjon Soliev.   March 17, 2015 in Brussels a reception was hosted at the European Parliament on the occasion of the International Day of Navruz at the initiative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Tajikistan to the European Union and with the support of the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz.  

Among the organizers of the event also were the diplomatic missions in Brussels of Afghanistan, Ambassador Homayoun Tandar, Azerbaijan, Ambassador Fuad Isgandarov, India, Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri, Kyrgyzstan, Ambassador Asein Isaev, Pakistan, Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi and Turkey, Ambassador Mehmet Olcay, as well as the Permanent Representation of UNESCO to the EU. The event was attended by members of the European Parliament, heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Brussels, permanent representatives to the EU and NATO, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium, the European Union, NATO, the Energy Charter, the Council of Europe, representatives of business, scientific, cultural circles and the media in Europe, as well as members of the Tajik diaspora in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Congratulatory speeches were delivered on behalf of organizers by Permanent Representative of the Republic of Tajikistan to the European Union, Ambassador Rustamjon Soliev, as well as Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Central Asian countries Iveta Grigule and Permanent Representative of UNESCO to the European Union, Ambassador Marie-Paule Roudil.  

Numerous national dishes and sweets of the host countries, as well as an exhibition of traditional national handicraft items were offered to the guests.