Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition Coordination Bureau Attended the 16th Conference of BIE to Promote Exhibition Garden Building of Participating Countries and International Organizations

The year 2018 is a crucial year of preparations for the International Horticultural Exhibition 2019, Beijing, China (the "Exhibition"). On November 22 to 23, 2018, the Beijing Expo Delegation, which was composed of 6 members including Mr. Chen Weidong, acting deputy head of Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition Coordination Bureau and deputy director of Beijing Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and Jiao Yutong, head of the Exhibition Invitation Department I under the Bureau, attended the 164th Conference of the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE) , which was held in Paris, France. This visit aims to enhance the international publicity efforts for the International Horticultural Exhibition 2019, increase the public’s awareness of and attention to the Exhibition, strengthen the communication with domestic and international exhibitors and facilitate participating countries and international organizations in the building of their exhibition gardens. BIE Chairman Stein Christensen, Secretary General V.G. Loscertales and Deputy Secretary General Dimitri Kerkentzes participated in the conference. 

Yin Zhonghua, vice president of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade briefed all participants on the overall construction of the International Horticultural Exhibition 2019. During the briefing, he indicated that the Chinese government has attached great importance to the preparation for the Exhibition, which has become one of the most important international events of the government in 2019. With "live green, live better" as its theme, this Exhibition will present a visual feast that combines flower gardening and cultural events, act as an important platform for international exchanges and cooperation in terms of green industry and help China become the most popular tourist destination in the world.

Yin Zhonghua, vice president of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade briefed participants on the overall construction of the International Horticultural Exhibition 2019

Tan Guangming, CPC member of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA), said in his briefing that NFGA will make all its efforts to make preparations for the International Horticultural Exhibition 2019. More investments will be made in afforestation, wetland conservation, natural reserve construction, building of flower and seedling demonstration bases, etc. to create more favorable ecological conditions for the construction of the Exhibition.

Tan Guangming, CPC member of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA), briefed participants on the preparations for the International Horticultural Exhibition 2019

 Peng Hongming, deputy secretary general of the China Flower Association, also briefed participants on the preparations for the International Horticultural Exhibition 2019. He reported project construction progress, building of foreign exhibition gardens, operation and integrated support of the park, publicity and promotion, activities to be carried out during the Exhibition and other work.

Peng Hongming, deputy secretary general of the China Flower Association, briefed participants on the preparations for the International Horticultural Exhibition 2019

Currently, the preparations for the International Horticultural Exhibition 2019 go well. The construction of the park and supporting facilities are being advanced in an orderly manner. Interior and exterior decorations on key pavilions including the China Pavilion and the International Pavilion are under progress. Main works of public green landscape have been completed and the frame of main roads in the park formed. Also, domestic and international exhibition invitation targets have been successfully achieved. Till now, 110 countries and international organizations have confirmed their participation in the Exhibition, making the Exhibition the one with the most participating countries and international organizations. Among them, 80 countries and international organizations will participate in the outdoor exhibition. It is planned that 41 outdoor exhibition gardens, composed of 34 independent exhibition gardens and 7 joint exhibition gardens, will be built. Also, 31 countries and international organizations will participate in the outdoor exhibition. Till the present, 34 exhibition gardens including German, Dutch, Japanese, Sudanese and Indian gardens have been started to be built. All participating units from 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities have entered the site for construction. The construction of Chinese exhibition gardens has taken shape. The operation and comprehensive support for the park have been gradually improved. Special work plans regarding transport support, security support, tourist service, guest reception, large events and volunteer recruitment have been finalized. The overall operation support system has been gradually built. The Overall Plan on the Ticketing of International Horticultural Exhibition 2019 has passed the review conducted by the Organizing Committee of the Exhibition. The publicity and promotion efforts are being increased. This year, the International Conference of Exhibitors 2018, the World Tourism Cities Federation Qingdao Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit 2018 and the International Promotion Conference (Milan, Italy) were held, enabling continuous expansion of the Exhibition’s influence in China and the rest of the world. More than 20,000 pieces of news relating to the International Horticultural Exhibition 2019 have been released. The public both at home and abroad are attracted to pay attention to, support and participate in the Exhibition. Initial success has gained in market development. Nine companies including Air China, China Youth Travel Service, Bank of Beijing, Shunxin Holdings, Vanke Group, BAIC Group, Baidu, JD.com and China Telecom have officially signed contracts to become global partners of the Beijing Expo. The activities to be held during the Exhibition have been basically identified. During the Exhibition, a series of cultural activities including the opening ceremony, the closing ceremony and the China Pavilion Day will be launched. Five major segments inclusive of early 2,000 cultural events will run through the entire exhibition for 162 days.

Mr. Loscertales, secretary general of BIE, spoke high of the preparations for the Exhibition and indicated that the Exhibition will provide a broad market space and a cooperation stage for participating countries in the fields of gardening industry, specialty culture and tourism resources. He hopes that exchanges and communication between the Exhibition and BIE will be enhanced and publicity and promotion work will be further conducted based on the platform of BIE so as to attract more tourists from overseas.

At the conference, the delegate exchanged views with general representatives of the UK, Russia, Saudi Arabia and other countries in BIE on the construction progress of exhibition gardens in the hope of facilitating the building of exhibition gardens of all participating countries.

During this visit, the Beijing Expo Delegation paid a visit to the Embassy of China in France. Yu Jinsong, Chinese ambassador in France, said that the International Horticultural Exhibition 2019, Beijing, China, as an international event hosted by the Chinese government, represents an important practice for China to show the soft strength of Chinese culture and actively pursue international exchanges. The Exhibition is also of far-reaching implications for facilitating friendly exchanges between Chinese and French people. The Chinese Embassy in France will coordinate the government authorities of French to promote the building of French exhibition parks via diplomatic channels.

The Beijing Expo Delegation paid a visit to the Embassy of China in France

The delegation also visited the Association Franco-Chinoise du Développement Durable (AFCDR) to discuss the construction of the French exhibition park. In-depth exchanges were conducted between the two sides.

The Beijing Expo Delegation visited AFCFR

Jiao Yutong, head of the Exhibition Invitation Department I, said that the International Horticultural Exhibition 2019 to be held will further improve the public’s gardening appreciation level, enhance international cultural exchanges and trade cooperation and promote the contacts and exchanges between China and the rest of the world including French. The French people are welcome to Beijing in the spring of 2019. They will, together with the Chinese people at the foot of the Great Wall, jointly witness such a wonderful event.

It is learned that the French exhibition garden adopts fresh and natural green colors as its main tone, with decorating flowers, to create a healthy, natural and fresh atmosphere by following the theme of Exhibition, "live green, live better". Dividing the exhibition area into several areas, streams guide visitors to travel around, making the garden more vibrant and energetic. They create a favorable and comfortable viewing experience for visitors. In the exhibition garden, there are exhibition areas, conference rooms, rest areas, VIP lounges, toilets and elevators accessible to the disabled, with sightseeing balcony provided on the top. Several sheets of LED displays are installed on the outside of the main building, which is used to play videos and images for tourists.

The delegation called on BIE Secretary General V.G. Loscertales and Deputy Secretary General Dimitri Kerkentzes. Both parties communicated and exchanged on the construction progress of the BIE exhibition garden. 

The International Horticultural Exhibition 2019 is the largest world exhibition with the most participating countries and international organizations. Till now, 22 international organizations including the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), BIE, the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), UNESCO and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation have confirmed their participation in the Exhibition. The International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE) was founded in French, 1928 and is headquartered in Paris. It aims to promote the economic, cultural, scientific and technological exchanges and development of countries in the world by coordinating and holding international expos. It is known that the Exhibition adopts the European garden style. Landmarks such as ground sculpture pavement, European style landscape wall, tree-lined sunshade, magic patterned flower bed, node platform, landscape lawn, opposite scenery walls and end scenery wall are incorporated in the design of exhibition areas. The roads, trees, walls and flower beds in the park form geometric figures that are strictly symmetrical, which are both solemn and decent. Designers have also designed a ground sculpture on the central axis of the park, where the time, place and name of previous world expos are recorded. There is also a ground sculpture that introduces the International Horticultural Exhibition 2019.

The International Horticultural Exhibition 2019 represents an important platform for facilitating international exchanges and cooperation in green industries and an important opportunity to carry forward the concept of green ecology and promote the transformation of economic growth patterns and residents’ living style. Since the International Horticultural Exhibition 2019, Beijing, China was recognized by 168 member countries at the 155th Conference of BIE, 2014, the Beijing Expo has insisted on its international commitments and steadily pushed forward preparation tasks guided by the theme of “live green, live better”. Next, the Beijing Expo will, with the highlight from the Chinese government and the support from BIE, continue to make good preparations for the Exhibition before its opening and strive to host a unique, exciting and memorable international event.