State Visit to China, 17-22 July 2006

[GrandDuchess]

A while ago I heard on the radio that the Swedish Ambassador to The People's Republic of China has confirmed that the King and Queen will pay a visit to the country in July. The Swedish Consulate General in Guangzhou has also confirmed it. (The dates are not official yet, the dates in the title is my guess out of the information I've heard and read of activities so far.)

The welcoming ceremonies will take place in Guangzhou/Canton, as the King and Queen will arive to the city on the andaman ship Götheborg that is scheduled to be in China for some time this summer. After that, the King and Queen will visit Beijing were President Hu Jintao will receive them.

Their Majesties will be accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and President of the United Nations General Assembly, Jan Eliasson.

PS. Since there's been no announcement from the Government Offices so far, we don't know many details yet...

http://www.swedenabroad.com/pages/news____50034.asp

[GrandDuchess]

A press release from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs yesterday confirms the dates to be 17-22 July.

The King and Queen will be onboard the East Indiaman ship Götheborg when it arrives in Guangzhou/Canton on 18 July.

The King and Queen will visit Beijing 19-20 July, where they will be received by the President of The People's Republic of China. They will also meet with the Mayor of Beijing, visit the Olympic village, and open Ericsson's new office in the capital.

In Beijing, the Royal Couple will be accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jan Eliasson, and Under-Secretary of State, Lars-Olof Lindgren. Accompanying the King and Queen will also be a business delegation of 20-something companies, led by the Chairman of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, Michael Treschow.

On 21 July, the King and Queen return to Guangzhou/Canton to attend the large welcoming arrangements planned for when the ship Götheborg will arrive in the central parts of the city, they will sail on a large Chinese djonk built especially to receive the East Indiaman at sea.

http://utrikes.regeringen.se/sb/a/65952

[Josefine]

so today the state visits starts does anyone know how many galas there will be?

[purple_platinum]

Originally Posted by GrandDuchess

The King and Queen will be onboard the East Indiaman ship Götheborg when it arrives in Guangzhou/Canton on 18 July.

The east-indiaman ship Gotheburg has arrived in Guangzhou.
Gotheburg docked at Nansha Harbour in Guangzhou.
but so far, i've not seen the King & Queen.. maybe sometime soon. :)

You can see pictures from the Gotheburg's arrival here

a picture from CFP :


--
http://news3.xinhuanet.com/english/2...nt_4819369.htm

Swedish sailing ship to arrive in China on July 17

BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The replica of the legendary 18th Century Swedish merchant ship "Gotheborg" is due to arrive in South China's Guangdong Province on July 17 to coincide with the arrival of Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf in China. The Gotheborg symbolized 260 years of friendly relations between Sweden and China, and would promote exchanges between the two countries, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu Tuesday.
(...)
King Carl XVI Gustaf will pay a state visit to China from July 17 to 22, at the invitation of the Chinese President Hu Jintao.

[GrandDuchess]

In the hours of the early morning, Swedish time, the East Indiaman ship Götheborg arrived in Guangzhou/Canton, broadcasted directly by the national Chinese television channel CCTV and Swedish TV4.

On board was the King and Queen, the Foreign Minister of The People's Republic of China, Li Zhaoxing, the Mayor of Guangzhou/Canton, Zhang Guangning, Swedish Vice Prime Minister, Bosse Ringholm (temporarily replacing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jan Eliasson, who is at home to deal with the Lebanon crisis, but hopes to join in later), Under-Secretary of State, Lars-Olof Lindgren, the Ambassador of Sweden to The People's Republic of China, Börje Ljunggren, and the Swedish Consul-General to Guangzhou/Canton, Ulf Sörmark. On board were also a big host of other Swedish politicians, businessmen and sponsors from both countries.

A welcoming ceremony was held in the Nansha harbor. After that the city of Guangzhou/Canton held a luncheon, and then the King and Queen were to uncover a monument in the Huangpu (Whampoa) Historic Port. After that they sailed to the Southern Sea Temple in Huangpu via boat. A welcoming dinner is to be hosted by the city of Guangzhou/Canton and the province of Canton this evening.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, the King and Queen arrive in Beijing where they will stay 19-20 July. On the programme there is a meeting with the President of The People's Republic of China, a performance of Peking opera, a meeting with the Mayor of Beijing, a visit to the Olympic village and opening Ericsson's new Asia headquarters. The Queen will also visit a place with AIDS and HIV struck children. In the evening the King and Queen will attend a reception for the Swedish community in China at the Swedish Embassy.

On Friday, the King and Queen will go back to Guangzhou/Canton as they board "Götheborg" to sail to the harbour Tou Zui. In the evening a dinner will be hosted by Their Majesties.

Saturday's programme consists of seminars and business contacts with Swedish and Chinese companies.

First picture, by Jonas Ekströmer/Scanpix via Expressen.

[fanletizia]

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia are greeted by an official on arrival at Guangzhou harbour on board the Gotheborg, a full size replica of one of the ships that sailed in the 18th century between the Swedish city of Gothenburg and Guangzhou, 18 July 2006, in southern China's Guangdong province. The King and Queen will arrive in Beijing the following day to meet with top Chinese leaders

images from aap and anp

[purple_platinum]

Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia stand on the replica of the Swedish merchant ship, Goteborg, docked at Nansha harbour in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong province July 18, 2006. Goteborg will stay in Guangzhou from July 18 to August 19, 2006, attending a month-long series of activities that cover areas of culture, economic, trade and tourism, China Daily reported.

from REUTERS/China Daily via yahoo

[xiaolong]

So happy to see them come to the province where I live.I have saw King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia on TV tonight.They look good.
The blue dress suits the queen very much,she is beautiful.

[GrandDuchess]

I love the Queen's outfit, it's one of her best. The blue suits her so well, and she's always so elegant in how she combines jewellery to go with the outfits. The hat is also fabulous! And now, two more pictures from the arrival!

GUANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 18: (CHINA OUT) Swedish King Carl Gustaf XVI and Queen Silvia visit the replica ship Goteborg on July 18, 2006, in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province China. Goteborg will be staying in Guangzhou until August 19, attending a month-long series of activities that cover areas of culture, economic, trade and tourism.

Photos by ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images

[fanletizia]

More images from getty

Queen Silvia of Sweden and King Carl Gustav of Sweden attend a welcoming ceremony at Nansha Ferry Terminal on July 18, 2006 in Guangzhou, Guangdong province of China.

[fanletizia]

More from getty, 1

[Larzen]

Originally Posted by GrandDuchess

I love the Queen's outfit, it's one of her best. The blue suits her so well, and she's always so elegant in how she combines jewellery to go with the outfits. The hat is also fabulous! And now, two more pictures from the arrival

I have to agree, I think it is nice that Silvia always dresses for her position as Queen and not as an executive, wether she is at home or abroad. She also always takes extra care of the details, like the smal anchor brooch she is wearing at the ship. To me she is the best dressed of the Queen consorts, she knows what suits her, its never hip, flashy, modern or "look at me" but relativly timelsess, which is why she can still wear her dresses from the 80s and 90s and not look too dated (which cannot be said for Norwegian counterpart forinstance )

[Lena]

Originally Posted by Larzen

I have to agree, I think it is nice that Silvia always dresses for her position as Queen and not as an executive, wether she is at home or abroad. She also always takes extra care of the details, like the smal anchor brooch she is wearing at the ship. To me she is the best dressed of the Queen consorts, she knows what suits her, its never hip, flashy, modern or "look at me" but relativly timelsess, which is why she can still wear her dresses from the 80s and 90s and not look too dated (which cannot be said for Norwegian counterpart forinstance )

I have to agree as well Silvia has indeed perfected the Queen consort style...well in fact she had a very good hand for it from the very beginning as Queen.
The only thing, which is sometimes "brrrr", is the clothes she chooses for semi private/semi official functions. But her costumes for highly official functions and her gala dresses are mostly 1A.

[grevinnan]

I remember reading right after Carl Gustaf and Silvia's engagement that someone in his "inner circle" said she was not queen material. How wrong that person was. In the future someone will take her place as the elegant and perfect Queen consort - who may it be?

[royalgertjan]

Queen Silvia looks very good!! :) i love her style!

is there any stae banquet? at what date?