April 2009
1 post
2 tags
Dimsum interviews Political Counsellor in China
Dimsum.co.uk, the popular website for the British Chinese community has interviewed Peter Wilson, the Political Counsellor at the British Embassy in Beijing, China. Peter gives a great insight into the work that he and his colleagues do in the country and for the interest of Great Britain. Read the article here, it is available in both English and Manderin.
March 2009
33 posts
6 tags
Further insights into the world of the FCO
Ambassadors and Heads of Missions have been talking to various newspapers, radio stations and websites about their work as part of our “Bringing Foreign Policy Home” initiative. Here are three from the past few days: Robert Brinkley, British High Commissioner to Pakistan, has been interviewed by the Birmingham Post about his role and the importance of the city’s ties with country. Peter...
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Meet the Beijing Embassy political team
Peter Wilson, political counsellor in China, introduces his team on video, who each give an introduction into their roles at the British Embassy in Beijing.
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Digital diplomacy event - 7. Simon Dickson,...
Last week we hosted an event in London around the concept of digital diplomacy. Mark Jones, global community editor at Reuters engages with the panel and provides some examples of Twitter being used as a digital diplomacy tool. Simon Dickson, e-government blogger at Puffbox.com, engages with the panel and talks about the appropriateness for the FCO to do diplomatic work through digital means....
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Digital diplomacy event - 6. Reuters engages with...
Last week we hosted an event in London around the concept of digital diplomacy. Mark Jones, global community editor at Reuters engages with the panel and provides some examples of Twitter being used as a digital diplomacy tool. His article on the event is also here.
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Digital diplomacy event - 5. openDemocracy.net...
Last week we hosted an event in London around the concept of digital diplomacy. Tony Curzon Price, editor-in-chief of openDemocracy engages with the panel raising a question about the connection between truth and power. His article on the event is also here.
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Digital diplomacy event - 4. David Warren, UK...
On Wednesday we hosted an event at King Charles Street around the concept of digital diplomacy. David Warren, UK Ambassador to Japan, offers his thoughts on digital diplomacy. David is keen to experiment more with digital technology for his and his embassy’s diplomatic work.
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BBC coverage of the Digital Diplomacy event
Having moderated our Digital Diplomacy event, Rory Cellan-Jones (BBC’s technology correspondent) has blogged about the session. He has also included examples of the digital diplomacy initiatives that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is undertaking. You can see his post here.
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UK ambassador encourages businesses in Manchester...
In an interview with the Manchester Evening News, Steve Williams, the UK ambassador to Bulgaria, says that businesses across Greater Manchester should consider cashing in on the ‘Berbatov effect’ by exporting to Bulgaria. He says that awareness about the North West has increased in Bulgaria on the back of the success of Bulgarian footballers in the Premier League and businesses in Manchester...
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Open Democracy blog on our Digital Diplomacy event
Tony Curzon Price, editor-in-chief at Open Democracy, has been the first to write up an analysis piece following our digital diplomacy event. Tony summarises the debate and raises the question of whether FCO blogging and other digital diplomacy efforts can be authentic without being influenced by power or other external factors. Open Democracy is a discussion website which offers news analysis and...
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Digital diplomacy event – 3. John Duncan, UK...
Today we hosted an event at The Foreign and Commonwealth Office around the concept of digital diplomacy. John Duncan, UK Ambassador for Multilateral Arms Control and Disarmament, offers his thoughts on digital diplomacy. John says one of the main aims of using digital tools for diplomacy is to demystify the work that he and his team does.
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Digital diplomacy event – 2. Mark Kent, UK...
Today we hosted an event at King Charles Street around the concept of digital diplomacy. Mark Kent, UK Ambassador to Vietnam, offers his thoughts on digital diplomacy. Mark talks about the importance of using digital tools for engaging the Vietnamese population.
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Digital diplomacy event – 1. Stephen Hale...
Today we hosted an event at King Charles Street around the concept of digital diplomacy. Stephen Hale, FCO’s head of engagement, introduces the concept as well as the FCO’s specific approach to using digital for diplomacy reasons.
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Women Diplomats: Interviews with UK Ambassadors to...
Ann Pringle, the British Ambassador to Moscow, has been interviewed in The Times. Ann highlights the importance of her role and how relations between the two nations, UK and Russia, are improving and how there is a lot to feel positive about. Ann has also been interviewed by the BBC, alongside Denise Holt (UK Ambassador to Spain), about their lives as ambassadors and the challenges they face in...
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New UK Ambassador to Afghanistan talks about his...
Mark Sedwill has been on the Simon Mayo show talking about taking up his new role as UK Ambassador to Afghanistan. Mark explains what his work will involve and says he’s looking forward to starting. Click here to listen to Mark’s interview — you will need to scroll forward to 2:04:39
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UK Ambassador to Bulgaria talks about his work...
Ambassador Steve Williams has been talking about his work helping UK firms do business in Bulgaria. UK Trade and Investment is highlighting infrastructure contracts in Bulgaria and Steve explains how he is encouraging British businesses to explore the opportunities there as well as to build greater ties between our two countries.
You can read interviews in the Leicester Mercury and on...
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UK Ambassador to Spain talks about her work...
Up to a million British people live part or all of the year in Spain. UK Ambassador to Spain Denise Holt has been talking to the BBC about the work she and her staff do to support them — you can read a transcript of her interview on the “UK In Spain” website, as well as find out more about the Embassy’s work.
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Interview with Peter Wilson, Political Counsellor...
What your role is as Political Counsellor? I run a team of almost 30 people, and we have four main jobs - to understand and report on China’s internal political situation, including human rights issues, for a high level audience across Government in the UK; to work with China, and understand more about Chinese views, on key foreign policy issues, including our work together as permanent...
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Inside the Embassy 9 - Ambassador to Japan, David...
Meeting with the staff at the British Consulate General in Osaka UK Ambassador to Japan, David Warren, meets staff at the British Consulate General in Osaka, Japan.
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Our man in Vietnam
Mark Kent, UK Ambassador to Vietnam, introduces you to his job and the challenges he faces on a daily basis. Mark is one of the Ambassadors taking part in our “Ask the Ambassador” programme, where you can ask questions and get direct answers from a number of British diplomats.
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UK Trade and Investment mission in Nigeria
The UK Trade and Investment team in Nigeria hosted two major trade missions - the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the African and Caribbean Business Network (accompanied by an exhibition) in September 2008. Some of the companies secured business contracts as a result. Picture 1 - HMA Bob Dewar (2nd right) and Deputy HMA Peter Stephenson (far right) with key representatives of...
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Inside the Embassy 8 - Ambassador to Japan, David...
Meeting with Japanese Defence Minister UK Ambassador to Japan, David Warren, meets Japanese Defence Minister Mr Yasukazu Hamada.
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Interview with Bob Dewar, UK High Commissioner to...
What is your role as High Commissioner?
I am working for Britain here in Nigeria to help bring positive progress and change to this large African democracy- and thus help Britain- while providing the best possible service to British people and businesses. I keep in close touch with all stakeholders including non-governmental organisations and civil society. What’s clear is that we are...
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Inside the Embassy 7 - Ambassador to Japan, David...
Meeting Kansai Electric Power Company UK Ambassador to Japan, David Warren, meets with Kansai Electric Power Company’s management. The company is looking to invest in the UK.
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Inside the Embassy 6 - Ambassador to Japan, David...
On the train UK Ambassador to Japan, David Warren, on the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Osaka, to see the British Consul General (and staff) and meet some Japanese companies who are investing in the UK.
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Interview with British Consul General, Richard...
Richard Wood, our Consul General in Cape Town is interviewed for Pink News. Richard talks about what it is like to work at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and be posted overseas. He also discusses the challenges for gay rights in South Africa. “The Foreign Office is such a good organisation in terms of diversity and it scored highly on Stonewall’s list of gay-friendly employers....
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Inside the Embassy 5 - Ambassador to Japan, David...
Regional Co-ordination UK Ambassador to Japan, David Warren, addresses a regional meeting in Tokyo of communication officers at British Embassies, High Commissions and other Posts across Asia Pacific. Participants are drawn from across the region — from Fiji to Taipei.
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Inside the Embassy 4 - Ambassador to Japan, David...
Working Together
UK Ambassador to Japan, David Warren, meets his counterpart from Pakistan. This is an example of how Britain works together with other nations on international issues.
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Inside the Embassy 3 - Ambassador to Japan, David...
Morning Meeting
UK Ambassador to Japan, David Warren, chairs his weekly morning meeting with heads of the teams from across the Embassy.
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Interview with Alan Charlton, Ambassador to Brazil
Meeting British Nationals in Rio (the hostel situation)
What are your main responsibilities as Ambassador?
Brazil is an emerging economy — the world’s 10th largest — and increasingly influential in world affairs. My job is to strengthen UK-Brazil co-operation to promote our objectives: address the world economic crisis; achieve a global agreement to meet the threat of climate...
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Ask the Ambassadors
Around the world British diplomats are working to promote the UK’s interests - from supporting British nationals to helping UK businesses to keeping Britain safe. As part of our ‘Bringing Foreign Policy Home’ campaign you can now ask questions to a select group of British Ambassadors and other diplomats directly about what they do. Please visit Yoosk to ask our diplomats questions on any...
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Inside the Embassy 2 - Ambassador to Japan, David...
Helping British businesses access global markets UK Ambassador to Japan, David Warren, introduces Sir Terence Conran to key representatives of the Japanese creative, design and architectural sectors. Sir Terence is one of the UK’s Business Ambassadors - 17 business and university leaders tasked with promoting the UK’s excellence internationally and ensuring that all UK businesses,...
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Inside the Embassy 1 - Ambassador to Japan, David...
Digital Diplomacy furthers UK-Japan Collaboration UK Ambassador to Japan David Warren is seen here hosting the closing ceremony of UK-Japan 2008. This was a year-long campaign to showcase the best of British contemporary achievements in the arts, sciences and creative industries, and to promote further UK-Japan collaboration. The campaign featured over 330 events in total and a particular focus...
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Bringing Foreign Policy Home
Welcome to our new “Rolling Record” blog.
Around the world British diplomats are working to promote the UK’s interests — from supporting British nationals to helping UK businesses to keeping Britain safe. Over the next few weeks we will give you new insight into the work that we do, looking at how this work abroad helps people back in the UK.
As well as posting video and...