CG Shanghai Newsletter May

Dear All,

The Shanghai World Expo Opening Ceremony on today marks the start of a very busy and important month for Norway and China. The Norwegian Constitution Day on May 17^th is always one of the most important days for the Norwegian Community, and this year we will also celebrate the Norwegian Day at the Shanghai World Expo on May 28^th. Norway is one of 43 nations represented with its own self built pavilion at the Expo. The Norwegian Pavilion, which has the theme “Norway. Powered by Nature”, is now ready to welcome visitors from all over the world!

During the next 6 months more than 70 million people are expected to visit what by far will be the biggest World Exposition in history. For the Consulate General this means busy months with intense preparations and activities. It is an exciting period ahead for all of us in Shanghai!

Norway Day on Expo is May 28, and will be celebrated with an exciting cultural program. Some of the performing artists are Sissel Kyrkjebø, Secret Garden and the Trondheim Soloists. HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Minister of Trade and Industry Mr. Trond Giske and Minister of Petroleum and Energy Mr. Terje Riis-Johansen are some of the prominent guests attending Norway Day.  

The Consulate General in Shanghai has now started offering online visa applications for Schengen visas. The new application procedure will result in shorter processing time, less queues at the Consulate, as well as making it easier for applicants to re-apply for subsequent visas.

This year’s Norwegian Constitution Day celebration will be held at Cypress Hotel on May 15. Tickets are out for sale now. Please send your reservation ASAP to 17mai.shanghai.2010@gmail.com.  And please do not forget Klubb Norge's monthly get-togethers. Make sure to keep yourselves updated by signing up to Klubb Norge’s newsletter at klubbnorgeshanghai@gmail.com

Norway’s Minister of Finance Mr. Sigbjørn Johnsen visited China in the period 10-14 April, on invitation from China’s Minister of Finance Xie Xuren. In Shanghai, Minister Johnsen’s schedule included a visit to the Norwegian pavilion on the Expo site, the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and a dinner with the Norwegian Business Community.

The Consulate General in Shanghai has now a new emergency number. After our office ours, in emergency please dial +47 23951300 to the Foreign Service Response Centre in Oslo, Norway.

The Consulate General would like to use the opportunity to wish everyone a happy spring and a memorable World Expo!

Welcome to the Norwegian Pavilion!
	After several years of preparation, on April 30 Shanghai is finally ready for the grand opening of the biggest World Exposition in history. Norway is one of 192 nations represented and our self built pavilion is now prepared to welcome more than 3 million visitors from all over the world!Read more >

Secret Garden and Norwegian Evening at Expo
	Norway at Expo 2010 is proud to present “The Norwegian Evening” at Expo in cooperation with Secret Garden and I.M. Skaugen. Secret Garden front figure and composer, Rolf Løvland, has written an orchestral suite especially for Norway’s pavilion at Expo 2010 in Shanghai. The suite can be experienced every evening as a multimedia performance in the Norwegian Pavilion. Read more >

Trondheim soloists on tour in China
	Trondheim soloists will be touring in China in May and June, performing music by Edvard Grieg and Tan Dun as well as traditional Scandinavian music. The tour includes a performance at the Shanghai Expo during Norway Day on the 28th of May.Read more >

Visa application Online
	The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Beijing, the Consulate General in Shanghai and the Consulate General in Guangzhou have now started using the Norwegian Application Portal for visa applications for Schengen visa only. Read more >

17. mai fest i Shanghai
	Klubb Norge ønsker alle hjertelig velkommen til norsk 17. mai feiring i Shanghai lørdag 15. mai.Read more >

Visit to China by the Norwegian Minister of Finance
	Norway’s Minister of Finance Mr. Sigbjørn Johnsen visited China in the period 10-14 April, on invitation from China’s Minister of Finance Xie Xuren. Read more >

Parallax on China Tour
	Norwegian jazz band Parallax will be on tour in China in May to promote their debut album Live in The UK. They will be playing alongside the Chinese composer Li Tieqiao. Read more >

Turdus Musicus on China Tour
	The Norwegian hard rock band Turdus Musicus returns to China for a three week tour across the country. The tour begins on the 3rd of May in Beijing where the band will play alongside Chinese rockers Tookoo at the well-known MIDI Festival. Read more >