The SNP government is keen to project a progressive image of Scotland that blends the contemporary and the traditional, and it was very fitting that Mr Salmond should be piped into the reception by a lady piper, Zoey Maciver, who works in Beijing and regularly appears at events in the city.

Scotland is keen, too, to emphasise her cosmopolitan historical roots, and the guests were subsequently entertained by Celtic Harpist Katie Targett Adams, who also lives and works in Beijing, and speaks fluent Chinese. Katie sang a classic Teresa Teng ballad, Yue liang dai biao wo de xin, followed by one of the greatest love songs of Scotland's finest poet, Robert Burns: My love is like a red, red, rose.

Celtic Harpist Katie Targett Adams entertained the guests with a Teresa Teng song in Chinese, and one of Scotland's best-loved ballads.

Also on the agenda was one of Scotland's other well-known exports, the game of golf. The First Minister drew laughter from the audience by graciously acknowledging that China too lays claim to having invented the sport – a claim that is backed up by contemporary paintings dating back almost a thousand years to the Yuan and Song dynasties – although it seems to have been a game for ladies only at the time!

Education and high-tech manufacturing are also a focus for the visit. Education Minister Fiona Hyslop is also part of the delegation, while the First Minister was particularly keen to emphasise the potential of new clean energy sources as a source of potential partnerships between Scotland and China.

"Scotland has a coastline of 11,000 kilometers, while China's coastline extends to 17,000 kilometers," said Mr Salmond. "The two countries share a lot in common. Power is the future, and we hope to encourage joint developments in offshore wind, wave, and tidal generation."

Scotland has a wealth of resource in high-tech and specialist manufacturing. Alan Henderson, managing director of Gas Sensing Solutions, a Cumbernauld Company, seized the opportunity for a photo-shoot with the First Minister to highlight the company's new Carbon Dioxide Sensor, a device no bigger than two coins.

Gas Sensing Solutions Managing Director Alan Henderson seized the opportunity to have the First Minister showcase his company's new Carbon Dioxide sensor.

"We have a strong commitment to China and I have been working with the Chinese for twelve years," said his fellow director Dr Des Gibson. "We have a host of interests here – for example the automotive industry has significant potential for our sensor."

While Mr Henderson will continue with the delegation on its trip to Beijing to visit customers there, Dr Gibson will be heading further north to Changchun, the center of China's automotive industry. In having had the foresight to extend its ambitions beyond the obvious targets of Beijing, Shanghai, and the Pearl River Delta, Gas Sensing Solutions has understood the value of being a trend-setter rather than a follower. As such it serves as a perfect role model for other ambitious and enterprising Scottish companies.

(China.org.cn April 8, 2009)