Beijing Expo 2019 Overfulfills Target for Exhibitors Solicitation and Wins High Praise from BIE for Wonderful Preparatory Work

Ahead of the 100 days countdown to the opening of Beijing Expo 2019, the preparatory work for the event has drawn particular attention. On December 12, a briefing on the preparation for the expo was held in Beijing. 

Vincente G. Loscertales, secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), Dimitri Kerkentzes, deputy secretary general of the BIE, and Wang Hong, vice mayor of Beijing and deputy director and secretary general of the Executive Committee of Beijing Expo 2019, attended and addressed the briefing, which was presided over by Feng Yaoxiang, director of the Department of Trade and Investment Promotion of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and head of the Liaison Group Office of the Organizing Committee of Beijing Expo 2019. 

Attendees also included Liu Shuren, inspector at the Department of Ecological Protection and Restoration under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Zhang Yinchao, deputy secretary general of China Flower Association (CFA), Peng Hongming, also deputy secretary general of CFA, Zhou Jianping, executive director general of Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition Coordination Bureau (BIHECB), Zhang Qian, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Municipal Government of Beijing and deputy director general of BIHECB, Wu Gang and Wang Chuncheng, both deputy director general of BIHECB, as well as Li Junhui, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Yanqing District, Beijing. 

In her speech at the conference, Wang Hong said that with more than four months countdown to the opening of Beijing Expo 2019, the focus of the next-phase work will shift from construction to operation and from exhibitor solicitation to service. Emphasis will be placed on the following aspects: First, we will promote high-quality exhibitions with a clear-cut thematic clue, brand-new innovations, cutting-edge technologies and diverse forms to tell stories about the development of the ecological culture and create attractive highlights; Second, we will make good jobs in organization of large-scale events during Beijing Expo 2019, including the opening and closing ceremonies, National Days and high-level forums, and invite heads of state of participating countries, leaders of international organizations, distinguished politicians, entrepreneurs and scholars to visit and inspect Beijing Expo 2019, thus giving full play to the expo’s role as a platform for public diplomacy, trade and investment; Third, we will do our utmost to provide first-class service and support to ensure the stable, orderly and safe operation of Beijing Expo 2019 according to the standards that conform to Beijing’s status as the “prime model” in urban construction and management; Fourth, we will actively advance the planning for consequential utilization of Beijing Expo 2019, with an aim to leave precious spiritual, cultural and technological legacies for mankind. 

Wang Hong, vice mayor of Beijing and deputy director and secretary general of the Executive Committee of Beijing Expo 2019

Vincente G. Loscertales said: Beijing Expo 2019 will definitely not only further enhance public horticultural taste and promote international cultural exchange and trade cooperation, but also further strengthen China’s interactions with other countries and increase mutual trust through deepening mutual understanding. For a long time, the Chinese government and the organizing and constructing teams of Beijing Expo 2019 have demonstrated a rigorous attitude toward work and a hardworking spirit, and it is encouraging that the expo has attracted so many international exhibitors to participate. The BIE has witnessed enormous changes taking place in the Expo Site, and I’m confident that the expo will become a great success. I wish the spectacular, unparalleled horticultural event to kick off as scheduled at the foot of the Great Wall, and look forward to attend the opening ceremony of the expo in the spring of 2019. 

Vincente G. Loscertales, secretary general of the BIE

Zhou Jianping, executive director general of BIHECB, briefed on the preparation for Beijing Expo 2019. 

According to him, Beijing Expo 2019 has met its goal of inviting participation from more than 100 countries and international organizations and more than 100 non-official participants, and construction of the Expo Site has been accelerated. To date, a total of 110 countries and international organizations have confirmed to participate in the expo, with its target for exhibitor solicitation being overfulfilled. The number also set a record of international participants among all A1 world expos. A total of 80 countries and international organizations will present outdoor exhibitions and plan to build 41 outdoor gardens (including 34 stand-alone gardens and seven joint gardens), of which 32 have begun construction and witnessed phased results. Meanwhile, 33 countries and international organizations plan to present indoor exhibitions. In addition, the number of non-official participants has exceeded 120. The blueprints for the five gardens designed by international architects from Britain, Denmark, Japan, the Netherlands and the United States have been finalized, which already began contrition. Gardens of 31 Chinese provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions as well as Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, alongside 17 corporate gardens, have begun construction. So far, the main construction projects concerning gardens of 10 provinces and Hong Kong, as well as three corporate gardens, have been completed.

Zhou Jianping, executive director general of BIHECB, briefed on the preparation work for Beijing Expo 2019

Feng Yaoxiang gave a briefing on the preparation for Beijing Expo 2019 from the national perspective. He noted that with the expo going to open in no more than five months, all preparatory work has entered a decisive stage, and CCPIT will continue performing its duty as the Liaison Group Office of the Organizing Committee of Beijing Expo 2019 and work closely with relevant departments of the central government to actively support and comprehensively involve in the preparation for the expo. He added that CCPIT will continue collaborating with the BIE and the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) to ensure all preparatory work proceeds in an efficient, orderly manner. 

Feng Yaoxiang, director of the Department of Trade and Investment Promotion of CCPIT and head of the Liaison Group Office of the Organizing Committee of Beijing Expo 2019

In his speech, Liu Shuren called Beijing Expo 2019 a milestone event in China’s history of promoting ecological progress and implementing the “Beautiful China” initiative. He said that China will take it as an opportunity to accumulate experience in hosting large-scaled world expos and strengthen exchange with other countries in the fields of flower culture and horticultural industry. Next, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China will advance the construction speed and quality of the Expo Site and accelerate the pace of building gardens and arranging indoor exhibitions according to the design plan to ensure the expo opens as scheduled. 

Liu Shuren, inspector at the Department of Ecological Protection and Restoration under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration

According to Zhang Yinchao, the preparation for Beijing Expo 2019 is making its final sprint. Under the guidance of the BIE and the unified leadership of the Organizing Committee and Executive Committee of Beijing Expo 2019 and thanks to the support from the Chinese government and participation of various countries, the expo will become an unforgettable horticultural pageant featuring advanced ideas, creative designs and first-class service and integrating tradition and innovation, and make contributions to writing a new chapter for the world horticultural industry. 

Zhang Yinchao, deputy secretary general of CFA

Dimitri Kerkentzes, deputy secretary general of the BIE, said that as a horticultural exhibition, Beijing Expo 2019 will focus on displaying great efforts made by people from around the world in flower cultivation and technological advancement. According to him, the BIE highly recognizes the preparatory work for Beijing Expo 2019 and will provide greater support for its work in the next stage, thus working together with the hosting country to achieve the expo’s goal of becoming “a new horizon of world horticulture and a new model of ecological conservation.” He believes that Beijing Expo 2019 will become the most influential and highest-level horticultural event of its kind that showcases the most comprehensive horticultural achievements. 

Dimitri Kerkentzes, deputy secretary general of the BIE

Preparation for Beijing Expo 2019 Proceeds Steadily

Eyeing on an Unforgettable Horticultural Pageant with First-Class Standards

Currently, all preparatory work for Beijing Expo 2019 proceeds steadily as schedules. Construction of the Expo Site and surrounding infrastructure projects has entered the final stage, core pavilions including the China Pavilion and International Pavilion have started interior and exterior decorations, and electrical and mechanical equipment installation and outdoor projects are nearly completed. A “Smart Expo” system has been designed and finalized, which is under construction. Major infrastructure projects in the Expo Site, including roads, heating and electric pipelines and firefighting facilities, have been completed. The Expo Site has been connected to the road network of Yanqing District and downtown Beijing. 

The publicity work for Beijing Expo 2019 is increasingly accelerated. Through platforms such as the 2018 WTCF Qingdao Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit and China (Guangdong) International Tourism Industry Expo and important milestones such as the 200 days countdown to its opening, Beijing Expo 2019 has carried out publicity activities both at home and abroad. This December, it will unveil its second group of image ambassadors and hold its third press conference at the State Council Information Office to increase its influence and awareness among the public. By November, more than 30,000 news reports about Beijing Expo 2019 had been published, reaching over 700 million audiences. Public attention and influence of the expo are growing with each passing day. 

The preparatory work for exhibition installation has been completed. Documents such as the exhibition masterplan have been formulated, and construction plans for the China Pavilion, International Pavilion and Life Experiencing Pavilion have been completed. Moreover, plans for indoor exhibitions for 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions have passed examinations and been approved. Plans have been made for key events such as the opening and closing ceremonies, opening activities and China Pavilion Day, as well as routine activities such as National Days, Honor Days, Days for Provinces/Municipalities/Autonomous Regions, and float parades. There will be over 2,000 activities including specialized forums, international competitions, ethnic culture exhibitions from around the world, and publicity of culture of the host country. The masterplan for cultural events during the expo has been formulated. 

The commanding system for the expo has been basically formed. Three leading groups respectively responsible for foreign affairs, publicity and security have been established to oversee and coordinate foreign affairs, media publicity, and security affairs from the national level during the expo. The working mechanism of the 15 leading groups under the Executive Committee has been launched, gradually forming a commanding system for Beijing Expo 2019. In addition, the operation and comprehensive support for the Expo Site have gradually improved. Plans for specialized work such as transportation, security, tourist service, protocol, large-scale events, and volunteer recruitment have been formulated, and an overall operation and support mechanism is taking shape. The Masterplan for Ticketing of Beijing Expo 2019 has been completed. 

Zhou Jianping, executive director general of BIHECB, said that 2018 marks the last and decisive year of the preparatory work for Beijing Expo 2019. Centered on the theme “Live Green, Live Better,” Beijing will take concrete steps to advance the preparation for Beijing Expo 2019 according to the standards that conform to the city’s status as a “prime model” in China, provide strong support for the success of the expo and create favorable conditions for exhibitors and exhibitors from both home and abroad, with an aim to present a special, wonderful and unforgettable horticultural exhibition to the world and write a brilliant chapter in the history of ecological civilization.