SPECIAL: http://www2.china-sd.com/zt/2007/20070823/index.htm

The press conference on the 2007 China (Qufu) International Confucius Cultural Festival

The press conference was chaired by Liu Baoju, deputy director of the Propaganda Department of Shandong Provincial CPC Committee and spokesman of Shandong Provincial People’s Government.

Liu Baoju: Good afternoon, friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen.

Liu Baoju: This year is Confucius’ 2558th birthday. The 2007 China (Qufu) International Confucius Cultural Festival, organized by Shandong Provincial People’s Government, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education, the National Tourism Administration, and the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, will be held from September 20 to September 28 in Qufu, Jining City, Shandong.

Liu Baoju: Today, the organizing committee of the 2007 China (Qufu) International Confucius Cultural Festival and the Information Office of Shandong Provincial People’s Government hold a press conference here, to which are invited Mr. Huang Sheng, Vice Governor of Shandong Province and deputy director of the organizing committee, Mr. Wang Wenzhang, director of the Chinese Culture and Art the Research Institute and deputy director of the organizing committee, Mr. Zhang Zhenchuan, deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of Jining City, mayor and deputy director of the executive committee of the organizing committee, and Mr. Zhao Shuguo, deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of Jining City and deputy director of executive committee of the organizing committee, to give a briefing on the 2007 China (Qufu) International Confucius Cultural Festival and answer journalists’ questions.

Liu Baoju: Next, we invite Mr. Huang Sheng, Vice Governor of Shandong Province and deputy director of the organizing committee for the 2007 China (Qufu) International Confucius Cultural Festival, to make a speech.

Huang Sheng: Good afternoon, distinguished guests, friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen.

Huang Sheng: Next, I’ll give you a briefing on the 2007 China (Qufu) International Confucius Cultural Festival.

Huang Sheng: The 2007 China (Qufu) International Confucius Cultural Festival will be held in  Confucius’ hometown, Qufu City, Jining, from 20 to 28 September and it is organized by Shandong Provincial People’s Government, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education, the National Tourism Administration, and the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.

Huang Sheng: Compared with the previous festivals, this year’s Confucius Cultural Festival has major changes in theme, level, content, form and so on, with the following distinctive features:

Huang Sheng: The first is its distinct theme and far-reaching conception. With the theme of "approaching Confucius, happily meeting the Olympic Games, sharing the same roots, and jointly constructing harmony", and with the focus of carrying forward the fine traditional Chinese culture and attracting overseas Chinese all over the world to participate, this year’s Confucius Cultural Festival will further enhance the sense of cultural identity and national self-confidence of the Chinese all over the world, better serve the cultural strategy of the state, and promote the construction of a harmonious society and a harmonious world, through carrying out a series of activities of approaching Confucius---the gathering of overseas Chinese at Confucius’ hometown, the Confucius cultural exchange week between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, the memorial ceremony for Confucius by Overseas Chinese.

Huang Sheng: The second is that the level is raised and the event is exceptionally grand. This year`s Confucius Cultural Festival is organized for the first time by the provincial government and the relevant state ministries and commissions, with a high level and large scale.

Huang Sheng: The third is its rich content and numerous bright spots. The cultural festival insists on the close combination of cultural activities with economic, scientific, trade, and tourist activities. During the cultural festival, the cultural activities to be held will be the second UNESCO "Confucius Education Award" presentation ceremony, the working meeting on education for all in the Asia-Pacific region, and the kick-off meeting for the World Confucian Conference. Also arranged are a series of economic, scientific and trade activities, such as the China (Jining) modern international agricultural exposition, the economic and trade consultations with overseas Chinese businessmen and Taiwan businessmen, tourist promotion conferences, which will further expand Shandong’s opening up to the outside world, and push the Qilu culture to go to the world.

Huang Sheng: During this year’s International Confucius Cultural Festival, four cultural theme activities and four economic, scientific and trade activities are mainly organized. The four cultural theme activities are (1) the opening ceremony and gala evening at the stadium in Qufu, Jining, Shandong, on the evening of September 27,

Huang Sheng: (2) the memorial ceremony for Confucius held at the Confucius Temple in Qufu on the morning of September 28, (3) the second UNESCO "Confucius Education Award" presentation ceremony held at Qufu Confucius Research Institute on the morning of September 23,

Huang Sheng: (4) the kick-off meeting for the World Confucian Conference from September 27 to 28.

Huang Sheng: The four major economic, scientific and trade activities are (1) the Eighth China Patent High and New Technology Products Exposition and the sixth Conference on the Cooperation between members of Chinese Academy of Engineering and Jining Municipal Government to be held at the Technology City of Qufu on September 28, (2) “the second Confucius cultural exchange week between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits and Taiwan businessmen’s visit to Confucius’ hometown” at Qufu " from September 21 to 28,

Huang Sheng: (3) the 2007 China (Jining) modern international agricultural exposition held at the Agricultural High-tech Garden in Jining City from September 21 to 23, (4) international tourist promotion conferences with the theme "Meeting the Beijing Olympic Games and visiting the hometown of Confucius and Mencius" held at Qufu and other places from 25 to 28 September. In the meanwhile, there will be a series of consultations about economic, scientific and trade cooperation projects, which include consultations about economic and trade cooperation projects with Taiwan, consultations about economic and trade cooperation projects with overseas Chinese, consultations about Sino-French technological projects, and specialized investment activities.

Huang Sheng: Confucius said, “Isn’t it a pleasure to have friends come from afar?” With a more open attitude, a more liberal policy, and a more civilized image, the new-century Shandong will enthusiastically meet guests and friends both at home and abroad. The hard-working, intelligent, honest and hospitable Shandong people, with polished goblets, warmly welcome the arrival of friends from the media and from all walks of life.

 Huang Sheng: I wish you all guests success, happiness and good health!

Liu Baoju: The news conference is over. Thank you once again for your support of the 2007 China (Qufu) International Confucius Cultural Festival. All the friends are welcome to go to Shandong and Jining for coverage. Thank you!