Text and Photo by the Danish Embassy in China
Sunday 15th May 2011, the Danish Embassy organized an Open Day event to celebrate the EU-China Year of Youth and let the Chinese visitors learn about Danish culture, famous Danish brands and taste Danish food and beer.
As part of the EU-China Year of Youth most of the EU member states’ Embassies in China hold an event during the month of May to celebrate European and Chinese youth cooperation. The Danish Open Day event is the biggest of all of the events and one of a few open to the Chinese public.
The embassy showcased an exhibition on Danish biking culture, where visitors were be able ride bicycles from the Danish EXPO exhibition in Shanghai, as well as a photo exhibition by the Danish photographer Steen Brogaard.
Visitors were also offered a guided tour of the residence of the Ambassador displaying Danish quality furniture, design and art.
A piece of Denmark in China
During the day the Embassy also hold a Q&A-session where the Chinese visitors were be able to ask questions directly to the Danish Ambassador and general managers from Danish companies in China.
Several people asked questions wanting to know about the Danish culture, education and biking culture.
In his welcome speech the Danish Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen mentioned the event was a good opportunity to open the doors of the Embassy to the Chinese public:
“I am glad that so many people show an interest in visiting the Embassy. It is a rare occasion for us to show the Chinese public our Embassy, which is a small piece of Denmark here in China,” Friis Arne Petersen says.
1300 guests
The Danish embassy used modern communication platforms to attract visitors and attention to the event. Visitors to the Open Day event had all registered on the Danish Embassy’s Sina micro blog.
More than 4500 people registered and of those 1000 people were selected to attend the Open Day event. An additional 500 invited guests attended the Open Day event. In total around 1300 guests visited the embassy during the day.
Ten Danish companies operating on the Chinese market took part in the event showcasing their products and services in pavilions and during the day the Danish fashion company Kopenhagen Fur did a fashion show.
The ten companies represent the best Denmark has to offer in the fields of innovation, design and creativity.
More than 400 Danish companies are already operating on the Chinese market.
Danish companies at the Open Day: Kopenhagen Fur (Fur fashion), Lego (toys), Georg Jensen (jewellery, design), Pilgrim (jewellery), Menu (design), Carlsberg (beverages), Cobe (architecture), Evita Peroni (fashion accessory), Lindberg (eyewear design), Skagen (watches).
