Beijing authorities unveil plans for Expo 2019

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The State Council Information Office (SCIO) held a press conference on Wednesday on the preparatory work of the 2019 Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition (Expo 2019 Beijing).

Organized by Beijing municipal government, Expo 2019 Beijing will open on April 29. According to the organizer, the preparatory work has entered the final stage.

Wang Hong, vice mayor of Beijing, deputy director and deputy secretary-general of the executive committee of Expo 2019 Beijing said that all the preparations for the exhibition are ready. It is estimated that about 110 international exhibitors and more than 120 non-official international organizations will join the 162-day expo.

Wang Hong, Vice Mayor of Beijing, deputy director and deputy secretary-general of the executive committee of Expo 2019 Beijing, speaks at a press conference in Beijing, China, December 26, 2018. /SCIO Photo

She also indicated that the opening ceremony, the opening activities, National Museum's Day professional summit, international competition, and more than 2,500 series of activities, so that visitors enjoy the international gardening feast, at the same time, experience the diversity of cultural feast around the world.

According to the overall arrangement of the preparatory work, the focus of the next stage will be shifted to indoor exhibition arrangement, exhibition services, and operation management during the expo.

“The expo marks a new driving force for the development of China's flower industry,” said Jiang Zehui, President of China Flower Association, and Vice-president of Organizing Committee of Expo 2019 Beijing.

Jiang Zehui, President of China Flower Association, and Vice-president of Organizing Committee of Expo 2019 Beijing, speaks at a press conference in Beijing, China, December 26, 2018. /SCIO Photo

From 1984 to 2017, the area of flowers and plants in China increased from 14,000 hectares to 1.4 million hectares, the sales volume increased from 600 million yuan to 153.3 billion yuan, and the export volume increased from tens of millions of U.S. dollars to more than 600 million U.S. dollars.

“China has become the world's largest flower production center, also, an important flower consumer and flower import and export trading country,” said Jiang.

“Hosting Expo 2019 will also bring new opportunities for global cooperation,” she added.

“The horticulture industry is a sunshine industry,” said Zhou Jianping, Executive Deputy Director-General of Beijing World Horticultural Expo Coordination Bureau.

Zhou Jianping, Executive Deputy Director-General of Beijing World Horticultural Expo Coordination Bureau, speaks at a press conference in Beijing, China, December 26, 2018. /SCIO Photo

Zhou mentioned that when people meet the basic needs of life, they will chase higher requirements for the quality of life and more yearning for a better life.

In his opinion, this is the reason why the flower industry has entered every citizen's family and become an indispensable part of people's life.

“I believe that by holding such an expo, the flower horticulture industry will get a great development,” Zhou added.

Also, the Expo also put forward the concept of "ecological priority" by diversity, respecting the basic idea of environmental protection.

As Zhou said, the organizing committee has ensured the original trees through various technical means, leaving nearly 50,000 original trees in the park. It is these original trees that provide a green shade for the exhibition.

Besides, the International competition is an important part of the expo, more than half a year, during which many international competitions and competitions will be held.

Expo 2017 was held in Astana, Kazakhstan.