Heard in the Hive

Hundreds of guests, as usual, turned up on September 29 for the annual reception hosted by the Chinese Ambassador, Liu Zhengxiu, and his wife, Chang Shuying, at the Chinese Embassy complex in St Julian's to mark China's National Day - the anniversary of the proclamation of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949.

Before being asked to help themselves to the lavish buffet of Chinese food, guests were addressed by the Ambassador (in English).

Mr Liu referred to China's breathtaking economic growth and social programmes since the reforms undertaken in 1978, which have resulted in a considerably higher standard of living for China's 1.3 billion citizens. Giving some statistics, the ambassador said that China's GDP had grown by 9.5 per cent this year to 814.6 billion US dollars. Trade volume had grown by 23 per cent over last year and has now reached 646 billion US dollars.

Despite this great progress, however, China still lags behind in terms of GDP per capita.

China, he continued, wanted peace and co-operation with all nations, not least Malta. He said Sino-Maltese relations have gone from strength to strength since they were established 33 years ago, and have always been based on genuine friendship and mutual respect. The two countries, though dissimilar in so many ways, supported each other in various areas, and a number of high-level visits have taken place this year.

Trade between the two countries has risen by 6.5 per cent over last year to reach a total of 243 million US dollars.

The Ambassador said that he was sure that now that Malta was a member of the European Union - with which China enjoyed excellent relations - bilateral relations would continue to prosper.

He then proposed a toast to the People's Republic, to the strength of Sino-Maltese relations, and to the health of the President of Malta, of its Prime Minister, Dr Gonzi, and the prosperity of its people.

President Fenech Adami, in his reply, said that birthdays are also celebrated by states. In this case, great changes have taken place in 56 years not only in China, but also in Malta. Changes brought countries together, despite their different cultural and economic systems. The two countries have come to share many things in common.

China's economic development has been truly impressive and the country has become an important voice in international relations. Malta, a tiny island in the Mediterranean, has developed very close relations with China, and the two countries' co-operation could grow within the ambit of the European Union.

President Fenech Adami then proposed a toast to the People's Republic of China, to the health of its President and to the prosperity of its people.

The two national anthems were then played.

Celebrating German unity

Villa Ajkla, the residence of the German Ambassador in Lija, was the venue last Monday for the annual reception celebrating Germany's National Day - the 15th anniversary of the country's reunification.

This year's reception came only a few days after an inconclusive general election in the Federal Republic, although it seems likely that the two major parties, the Christian Democrats/CSU and the Social Democrats, will form a grand coalition or Grosse Koalition.

Ambassador Georg Merten and his charming wife welcomed the hundreds of guests, who included the President and Mrs Fenech Adami, the Acting Prime Minister and Mrs Louis Galea, MPs, ambassadors and other members of the diplomatic corps, businessmen, teachers of German, officials of the German-Maltese Circle and members of the numerous German community.

Ambassador Merten, in his speech, observed that this was the fifth time that he and his wife were hosting the National Day reception in Malta.

EU membership, he said, had brought Germany and Malta closer together. Both countries' parliaments had ratified the EU Constitution, although the ratification process seems to have stalled in other countries.

Mr Merten described German-Maltese relations as "firm and solid", and referred to Malta's outgoing Ambassador in Germany, William Spiteri, and his wife Doris (both of them present at the reception), who through their long years in Germany had contributed in a major way to cementing these relations.

He was sure these relations would continue to thrive with the new Maltese Ambassador in Berlin, Dr Jean Paul Grech, who was also present at the reception. He wished both Mr Spiteri and Dr Grech success in their new endeavours.

Also contributing to the strong relations was the presence of so many German companies in Malta, one of which, Hetronic, was celebrating its tenth anniversary here and to mark the occasion kindly provided German marzipan bars to all guests present.

Mr Merten said he was sure too that, given the Maltese passion for football, next year's World Cup in Germany will bring the two countries even closer together.

To underline the two countries' future together as members of the European Union, for the first time at such receptions, three anthems would be played - those of Malta, Germany, and of the European Union, which in fact is the great German poet Schiller's Ode to Joy, set to music by the even greater German composer, Beethoven, in his Ninth Symphony.

The ambassador ended by proposing a toast to Maltese-German relations.

In his reply, President Fenech Adami said October 3, German Unity Day, is not just a German celebration but one to be marked by all those who believe in democracy. For it marked the climax of a year of tremendous changes in Europe, the demise of the Communist system, which resulted in the reunification of the two German states in 1990. That year, too, Malta applied for EU membership, and this has now been accomplished.

Dr Fenech Adami said that we tend to take certain things for granted, but these were important changes for the two countries' democratic future.

Germany had always shown a keen interest in Malta, and one had only to look at the investment made by so many German firms in the island. This had come about because the Maltese work ethic was sound, and German enterprises believed in the productivity and reliability of the Maltese worker. Indeed, this was a major attraction of foreign direct investment to the island.

Dr Fenech Adami expressed his gratitude to German enterprises for believing in Malta.

He then proposed a toast to the prosperity of the German people and to German-Maltese relations.

This is followed by the playing of the three anthems.

People

Professor Patrick Sullivan, who last week was invited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his graduation along with fellow graduates, was recently awarded a fellowship of the American Concrete Institute international.

He is a visiting professor and senior research fellow at City University, London and is principal of Sullivan & Associates, consultant structural and forensic engineers. Professor Sullivan is an assessor and a monitor of Research and Development projects for the Department of Trade and Industry Technology Innovation programme. He has also been a specialist assessor for the Higher Education Funding Council for England. He is a committee member of ACI 120, 214 228 and 355.

Prior to his appointment at City University, he worked with consultants and contractors for 10 years, five of which were involved with the development, design and later construction of the first spherical pre-stressed concrete nuclear pressure vessel for gas-cooled reactors in the UK. The next 25 years were spent at Imperial College London, where he gave post-graduate courses on concrete structures and materials. His research interest was on the effects on concrete under extreme environments.

During his time at Imperial he founded a commercial laboratory in 1974 to service his consultant's practice and the civil and structural engineering industries. The company was involved in investigating deteriorating buildings and Civil Engineering structures. In situ non-invasive testing in conjunction with load testing on structural members were carried out, including full scale testing of survival crafts (covered GRP lifeboats) for offshore structures and oil tankers to resist fuel fires. He acted as expert witness on many high profile litigation cases.

Professor Sullivan was educated in Architecture and Engineering at the Royal University of Malta, where he obtained a Rhodes scholarship in 1954. He then read Engineering Science at Oxford and undertook a graduate course in Concrete Technology at Imperial College, where he also obtained his doctorate.

Professor Sullivan is an Architect & Civil Engineer (Malta), an Associate of the Institute of Arbitrators and a Fellow of the Institute of Structural Engineers, Institution of Civil Engineers and City and Guilds of London.

Charmaine Sant was recently awarded an M.Sc. in Child Forensic Psychology and Law with distinction from the University of Portsmouth, UK. Her research, which won the Ray Bull award for an outstanding project in Child Forensic Psychology and Law, focused on 'A comparison between the psychological effects on children of testifying in open court as opposed to via live-link'.

Ms Sant holds a first degree in B.Psychology (Hons) from the University of Malta and a post-graduate diploma in Gestalt Psychotherapy.

Patrick J. Psaila has returned from Dublin after obtaining his practitioner's licence in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) from the Irish Institute of NLP.

The intensive training programme is accredited and certified by the Society for NLP, the largest and oldest NLP training body in the world and the only one endorsed and certified by Dr Richard Bandler, the co-founder of NLP. The course was directed by Brian Colbert and Owen Fitzpatrick, both NLP master trainers coached directly by Dr Bandler.

Mr Psaila is a psychologist and training consultant specialising in personal and professional development programmes for managers and leaders in organisations. He has designed and directed various programmes in the field of emotional intelligence and will be further enriching his work by using NLP skills and concepts in his training. NLP is the study of how the mind and language work together, and how thinking, communication and behaviour can be improved.

For the past eight years Mr Psaila has been the director of WorkAssist, providing individual coaching and mentoring, counselling and psychotherapy, and various training programmes in the field of workplace psychology. He has also trained various professionals in designing and delivering training programmes, counselling skills, and mentoring.

Mr Psaila is a sessional lecturer and trainer with the University of Malta, the Malta Institute of Management, and the Foundation for Human Resources Development.

University of Greenwich graduation

Four Maltese students were recently conferred with a B.Sc. Computing degree from the UK's University of Greenwich after having completed a three-year course.

The course was organised by the Malta University Services (MUS) in conjunction with the University of Greenwich, School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences.

The graduates, in the presence of their families, received their awards in the campus's magnificent 18th century Baroque chapel. A reception followed in the renowned Painted Hall. Also present at the ceremony were the highest representatives of Greenwich as well as Professor Charles J. Falzon and Professor Albert Leone Ganado from MUS.

Appreciation for 43 years of musicianship

Noel Calleja, executive producer of the Malta Trade Fairs Corporation anniversary concert, and the celebrated cellist Julian Lloyd Webber had a surprise up their sleeve for National Orchestra musician Alfred Tonna at the corporation's 50th anniversary concert held on September 16 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.

Mr Tonna, who will be retiring in the coming days, has been employed as an orchestra cellist from a very early age, having joined the chamber orchestra of the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Navy (Malta), better known as the C-in-C's Orchestra, on June 6, 1962.

He then joined the Manoel Theatre Orchestra and subsequently the National Orchestra. For most of these years, Mr Tonna performed as principal cellist.

At its anniversary concert, A Night with Lloyd Webber, the corporation though it was only fitting to show appreciation for Mr Tonna's service with something meaningful.

So towards the end of the concert Mr Lloyd Webber presented his very own, personally signed recording of Elgar's Cello Concerto on compact disc to a very surprised Mr Tonna. It was an exceptionally appropriate memento from one cellist to another.

Ken Hom at Agenda Bookshop

Agenda Bookshop at the Valletta Waterfront and Rausi Company Ltd hosted a live Chinese cooking demonstration and book signing for the public by leading international chef Ken Hom.

A Monsoon Valley wine tasting session was held immediately afterwards. Those present were able to learn methods and the tricks of the trade of Chinese cooking, ask any related question and get their Ken Hom book signed while sampling some good Chinese food and enjoying a glass or two of Monsoon Valley wines.

Ken Hom, one of the first BBC television cooks and a worldwide authority on Chinese cuisine, has written 20 best- selling books, sold millions of his own woks and is currently consultant chef to the Yellow Café chain in London. Born in Tuscon, Arizona 50 years ago, Hom lives in Catus, South West France.

During his stay in Malta, Ken Hom delivered various live cooking demonstrations at selected leading household shops, supermarkets and other specialised outlets.

A new collection of Ken Hom Tao Woks was also launched in Malta by Rausi Company Ltd during his stay. Hom is now visiting other countries around the world to inspire and encourage more people to try Chinese cuisine. According to Hom, Chinese food is one of the healthiest and tastiest in the world.  

Start of equestrian season

The Equestrian Season starts today at Tal-Maghtab Stables at 9 a.m., with a in-hand horse show.

The first round of the Show Jumping Championship is to be held at 2 p.m. Entrance is free and refreshments are available at the bar on site. For further information phone Sarah on 9942-8281 or Rachel on 9948-6491.

The inexplicable on Il-Lejl it-Tajjeb

Former Police Academy commandant Joe Gauci will tonight recount his strange, inexplicable experience during his tenure at Fort St Elmo during the programme Il-Lejl it-Tajjeb on TVM.

The second programme in the series, which airs at 10.15 p.m., focuses on a range of strange happenings witnessed by several people who insist that these events did happen.

It is alleged that within Fort St Elmo, which houses the Police Academy, several people have seen figures appearing in photographs despite their never being present.

Other strange incidents include the sound of heavy objects dragged around rooms and sobbing echoing around the fort. People claim that the walls within St Anne's chapel were once oozing blood.

Il-Lejl it-Tajjeb is produced by 26th Frame and is hosted by Stephanie Farrugia with narration by Manuel Cauchi.

Embassy closed

The American Embassy will be closed tomorrow for Columbus Day, an American national holiday.

The Embassy will resume normal business hours on Tuesday.

For your diary

The Sisters of the Good Shepherd are organising a bazaar in aid of Dar Merhba Bik, the shelter for abused women, and of their mission in Sudan, in the convent garage at 22, Idmejda Street, Balzan, today from 9.30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

A bazaar is being held at King's, Tower Road, Sliema, tomorrow, from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. New clothes, crockery, ornaments, sewing machines, books, toys, Holy Communion dresses, wedding dresses and hats, among other items, will be on sale.

Caritas co-operators are holding a day at the Suncrest Hotel, Qawra, on Wednesday, with coffee at 10.30 a.m., a talk by Dr Roberta Borg Costanzi on healthy eating at 11 a.m., Mass celebrated by Mgr Victor Grech at noon, and lunch at 1 p.m. Cards or any other game may be played in the afternoon.

For more information and bookings contact Marielouise Mifsud on 2133-0471, Phyllis Ciappara on 2134-2910, Josephine Farrugia on 2132-0016 and Mary Darmanin Demajo on 2131-3486.

Ward u Zghar is organising a get-together at the Centru Hidma Socjali, St Venera, on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

It is also organising a wine and pizza party at Mtarfa on Saturday at 8 p.m. For bookings phone 9947-2868.

The Malta Floral Club is celebrating its 40th anniversary with dinner in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza at the Malta Hilton on Friday at 8 p.m. For bookings phone Agnes Melillo on 2137-8716 by Saturday.

Learn about an innovative, complementary method of healing and pain management. An introductory talk will be given by Christoph Bangert, the instructor of the Healing and Pain seminar, at 39, Good Shepherd Avenue, Balzan, on October 31 at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

The President and Mrs Fenech Adami's engagements October 10-16

Tomorrow
11 a.m. The President presents credentials to Dr Jean Paul Grech, Ambassador-designate of Malta to Germany, at the Palace, Valletta.

4 p.m. The President presides over a meeting of the Commission for the Administration of Justice.

Wednesday
7.30 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a reception hosted by Spanish Ambassador Maria Rosa Boceta Ostos, on the occasion of the National Day of Spain, at her residence in Balzan.

Thursday
10 a.m. The President is presented with letters of commission by Malaysian High Commissioner Zulkifli Bin Yaacob at the Palace, Valletta.

11 The President is presented with letters of commission by Iqbal Haider, High Commissioner of Pakistan.

Noon The President is presented with credentials by Tunisian Ambassador Mohamed Mezgheni at the Palace, Valletta.

Friday
10 a.m. The President receives Lord Howell of Guilford, British Opposition spokesman and former Cabinet Minister, at the Palace, Valletta.

7 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend the Premju Anzjan tas-Sena at St Vincent de Paul Residence in Luqa.

Saturday
7.30 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami host a recital by the Medit Chamber Players at San Anton Palace.