Among the top leaders attending the opening ceremony were Cao Jianming, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Zhang Meiying, Vice Chairman of the Eleventh CPPCC National Committee and Honorary Chairman of the China Flower Association, Lou Qinjian, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People’s Congress, and Wu Zhenglong, Deputy Secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee and Governor of Jiangsu Province.
Also present at the opening ceremony were Li Wei, Director of the Population, Resources and Environment Sub-Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Jiang Zehui, Co-Chairman of the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization and chairman of the Chinese Flower Association and Peng Youdong, Deputy Director of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration.
Cao Jianming announced the opening of the International Horticultural Exposition 2021 Yangzhou. Wu Zhenglong delivered a speech on behalf of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government.
Wu Zhenglong said that General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that building a beautiful home is the common dream of mankind, adding that Jiangsu is a large province of gardening, and Yangzhou gardens are the treasures of China’s classical gardens, making the province and the host city entitled to the World Horticultural Exposition.
The governor said that the gardening and horticulture from around the world bloom at this year's World Horticultural Exposition, adding that the expo also demonstrates the latest achievements in the construction of beautiful Jiangsu, and will further promote the province’s new practice of modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature.
He hoped that this Expo will serve as a link to deepen exchanges and cooperation, enhance mutual friendship, continue to strengthen the construction of ecological civilization, enhance people’s awareness of green development, join hands to build a beautiful home, create a better life, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.
Jiang Zehui and Peng Youdong delivered speeches on behalf of the China Flower Association and the State Forestry and Grassland Administration.
Bernard Osterom, chairman of the International Association of Horticultural Producers, delivered a video speech.
They remarked that the Yangzhou Expo is the world’s first international horticultural event to be held as scheduled since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It not only demonstrated the major achievements in China’s epidemic prevention and control, but also dedicated a wonderful horticultural event, reflecting China’s sharing of ecology with the world and its sincere wish for new achievements in civilization construction.
25 foreign cities or international organizations, 26 Chinese cities and enterprises, and 13 prefecture-level cities in Jiangsu participated in the exhibition which cover a total area of 230 hectares.
The 6-month Yangzhou Expo will host a variety of gardening, floral events, competitions and exhibition activities, including rose, peony, lotus, horticultural design, bonsai skills, flower arrangement and flower art international professional competitions, and Miss World Tourism tours and themed activities and performances of the World Street Culture Awards.
