Bencham: ten years in China

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

BENCHAM stands for Benelux Chamber of Commerce in China and is the Chamber for Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg.
On 13 January Bencham organized its New Year’s cocktail in a rather unusual setting: Hard Rock Café (next to Landmark Towers and the Great Wall Sheraton Hotel), a place I had not been since the late nineties when I was based in Shanghai. Funny, it looked smaller to me, I guess because at that time is was relatively big. Now we have so many places it just looks like a bit more common.
There was the usual review of past activities and the speeches of the Chamber and the 3 countries involved:
– Nicolette Groot and Daniel Pauwaert for Bencham;
– H.E. Carlo Krieger (ambassador of Luxembourg), Didier Vanderhasselt (Minister Counsellor, representing the Belgian ambassador) and Siebe K. Schuur (Commercial Counsellor, representing the Dutch ambassador).


Bencham also introduced its revamped website: www.bencham.org and the details of the “Bencham X Ball” planned for 26 February 2011 at the Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel, to celebrate the ten years.
In the late nineties I was myself the president in Shanghai of the Belgian Luxembourg Business Association (BLBA), what would later become the Bencham.

Stars at 2011 BTV Spring Festival Global Gala

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

(No no, there are no Playboy Bunnies in Beijing (yet) though the girls were euh… no comments, look for yourself. Blame it all on The Year of The Rabbit!)
On 12 January we had the real pleasure to be part of the audience at the new BTV tower for the recording of the Spring Festival Global Gala. It will be broadcast worldwide during the period of the upcoming Chinese New Year. I was at the BTV construction site for a TV interview many years ago. It is actually the highest steel construction in Beijing.
The show was great, unlike other rather boring events. Most of the performers were foreigners but they made me feel pretty humble as nearly all spoke Chinese fluently.


See here part of the list of people involved:
– One of the hosts was David Wu (USA overseas Chinese), who was a MTV host for a long time.
– Miss Sierra Leone 2009 Mariatu Kargbo (stunning beauty really) – fluent in Chinese
– Connie Talbot – 10 years old, from UK
– Samatha Pryce (Welsh, living in Beijing)
– Lilian Okoye – from USA, won a competition in Chinese proficiency
– Jin Meier (South Korea)
– Flameco dancing by the group of Cristina Hoyos Panadero
– Waka Waka performed by Mariatu Kargbo
– Robert Wells with his Swedish rock band and The Vocalettes
– Ana Rucner, cello – from Zagreb (Croatia)
– The Chooky Dancers, Australian traditional group, they gave a great and hilarious performance
– Lara Fabian, from Belgium (and pretty famous in Canada and USA), sung a duet with Shang Wenjie
– LaGaylia Frazier
and many others…
So people, watch out for the program next month and enjoy!

Full house at Christmas Eve

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

This time we beat our record I think. We had a grand total of 61 persons in our “soho” place (office/home), a varied group from Belgium, Bulgaria, China, France, Germany, Holland,  Romania, UK, USA and maybe some E.T. All there to eat the best turkey in the world, plus all other dishes. All prepared by Sun who commandeered the kitchen. I took care of cutting the huge bird and making sure the guests had enough to drink.


We had completely re-arranged the office space. But by 11:30pm when everyone was gone, all dishes were clean, all furniture back in place and no trace of the party. We were exhausted but happy.
I ended the night by emptying some bottles and we all crushed in bed….
Thanks to all our friends who made it a great night through their cheerful presence and thanks to many who lend a helping hand (though I am suspicious they were also in the kitchen to “taste” some of the food?)
Thanks also to Karin and Wilfried for their pics.

One more year and welcome 2011

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

The day of 31 December is very special for me and now only insiders are supposed to know.


This year we decided to keep it all quiet and spend New Year’s Eve at Morel’s Restaurant (Gongti Bei Lu), leaving us in the good hands of Susan.
As usual we ate a lot, I drank a lot and we had fun.
A good way to end “the” year and start a new one.
We also saw rabbits, the sign of another year coming very soon.
To all our friends, a Happy 2011!

BOT promoting grass-roots tennis in Beijing

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

BOT: Beijing Oriental International Tennis Development Center
Director: Ms. Zhang Yaorong
Their website: http://www.bottennis.com/ (unfortunately, nothing in English)
I have been involved since the beginning with BOT, participating at several of their events, like the one on18 December in “Couleurs de vie” (Fortune Mall near Fortune Tower in CBD)(www.couleursdevie.com.cn).
BOT is fully supported by the Beijing Municipal Government.
The idea is to develop tennis as a sport for the general public, both old and young, and develop the tennis industry. There are specific activities and initiatives for different target groups. Every year BOT organizes the “Beijing International Veteran Tennis Tournament”, with seniors participating from all over the world.
The goals are different from the 6th Sense Potter’s Wheel International Tennis Center (http://www.6sensetennis.com/). Initially there was the idea to work with Justine Henin but a commercial deal did not materialize.
The event of Saturday was held in the large French complex in Fortune Mall (Pierre Leduc, General Manager), the first time I made it there. There are totally 3 floors with cafés, Hong Kong Food, French food, a Curry restaurant and a European city themed corner complete with carousel. My first visit but for sure not the last one!
The event was also sponsored by Vandergeeten (the major importer of Belgian goodies such as Stella Artois, Hoegaarden, Leffe and Belle-Vue). Frederik Esbensen was on the spot to give me my liquid food. Hoegaarden beer flowed freely and even made the TV guys pretty happy.
Pictured giving speeches are Ms. Zhang and the new Director General of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports, Mr. Li Yingchuan. Also pictured: Piere and Paul and Rowan Simons of Clubfootball and of course Sun & Valerie.


After the reception I joined the private dinner (great veal steak!) together with the organizers. An artist made some on the spot portraits, including of Ms. Zhang.
We also had some ballroom dancing. Cool… and classic music.
Later I will post some pics from earlier events.