On a visit to Guangzhou last week with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told a Sino-German business meeting that energy conservation and environmental protection will be a key area for future cooperation between the two countries.

"We will learn about advanced technology from Germany with an open mind, and we hope Germany will open its technical market to China," said Wen, who added that China will adhere to intellectual property rights regulations.

A day earlier in Beijng, Merkel said in a speech to scholars at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences that her visit to China comes at the start of the Year of the Dragon, "extraordinary as a year of new ideas and big changes". The year 2012 includes celebrations of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Year of China in Germany and numerous exchange events in China. She said all are opportunities "to get to know each other and to jointly develop new projects and explore new avenues".

Startup Sauna, a Finnish initiative that has helped launch entrepreneurs in northern Europe, the Baltic states and Russia by helping to raise $10 million in seed capital, has been taking applications for Startup Sauna Shanghai. The deadline is Feb 10, and up to 20 applicants will be notified on Feb 15 that they are invited to make a formal pitch in Shanghai on Feb 21.

"Startup Sauna seeks to position Shanghai as equal to Silicon Valley for European startups," the Finnish embassy says on its website.

The Finnish company, with funding support from Aalto University in Helsinki, is looking for startups that can speak and work in English, have at least a scalable business idea, a prototype or a ready product, a good team (more than one person) and "are looking for advice and are eager to learn".

Selected applicants can expect a one-day coaching event, aimed at entrepreneurs who want to "go global", with plenty of one-on-one feedback. Peter Vesterbacka, chief marketing officer of Rovio, the Finnish creator of Angry Birds mobile-phone games, will be a keynote speaker. After each applicant makes its presentation the winning pitch of the day will receive $1,000.

The Swedish embassy announced a celebration of Semla Night in Kunming, at the TCG Nordic Center. To explain a "special tradition we want to share with all our friends", Erik Gunnarsson will explain the history, stories and the making of the special pastry semla, and visitors will have a chance to sample this holiday cream puff.

The Norwegian embassy is celebrating the upcoming visit to China of its most famous sons. Composer Edvard Grieg will be in Shanghai - in spirit - providing the incidental music for the play Peer Gynt at the Shanghai Concert Hall on Feb 18. Lyric soprano Barbara Bonney will be there in the flesh, singing the concert with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Yu Long.

The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra is one of the most established orchestras in Asia. The ensemble has established working relations with many world famous musicians and has in recent years toured extensively in Asia, Europe and the US. The forthcoming Grieg performance is one of many examples of the orchestra's commitment to introduce Western music to the local scene.

Embassy and consulate news can be sent to michaelpeters@chinadaily.com.cn