Press Conference on Heze International Peony Festival 2009

[8:10:17, March 18, 2009] It is scheduled that a provincial government press conference will be held at 9: 30 am, 18 May, 2009 (Wednesday) on Heze International Peony Festival 2009.

[9:11:40, March 18, 2009] The press conference is chaired by Kong Fanke, director of the International Communication Office of the CPC Shandong Provincial Party Committee, director of the publicity section of the Information Office of Shandong Provincial People`s Government, and director of the Office of Shandong Provincial News Release Coordination Group.

[9:29:21, March 18, 2009] Kong Fanke: Good morning, friends from the press, ladies and gentlemen.

[9:29:46,March 18, 2009] Kong Fanke: Since 1992, Heze City has held Heze International Peony Festival 2009 every year and has successfully held 17 sessions up to now. Heze International Peony Festival 2009 will be held from April 16 to May 3 this year. Today, we hold a provincial government press conference and have invited Mr Li Hongfa, deputy mayor of Heze Municipal People`s Government, and deputy director and secretary-general of the Organizing Committee for Heze International Peony Festival, Mr. Wang Dianchang, deputy secretary-general and office director of the Organizing Committee for Heze International Peony Festival and director of the Tourism Bureau of Heze City, and Mr. Hu Qinchang, director of the Bureau of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Heze City, to give briefings on the related affairs and answer journalists’ questions.

[9:31:49, March 18, 2009] Kong Fanke: First of all, we have Mr Li Hongfa give a briefing on Heze City and Heze International Peony Festival 2009.

[March 18, 2009 9:32:45] Li Hongfa: Good morning, friends from the press, ladies and gentlemen.

[9:33:18, March 18, 2009] Li Hongfa: Now, I’ll give a briefing on Heze City and Heze International Peony Festival 2009.

[9:34:12, March 18, 2009] Li Hongfa: 1. A survey of Heze. Heze, known in ancient times as Caozhou, acquired its name because there was Mount He to its south and the He River to its north. It is a beautiful ecological plain city, with eight counties, one district, and eleven provincial-level economic and technological development zones under its jurisdiction, a population of 9 million, and an area of 12 thousand square kilometers. It is also known as China’s City of Peony, the Home of Calligraphy and Painting, the Home of Traditional Chinese Opera, and the Home of Martial Arts. In addition, Heze has a large stock of land, low electricity prices, rich labor resources, and great space for economic growth an potential.

[9:35:39, March 18, 2009] Li Hongfa: 2. About Heze peony. Heze is rich in peony resources. Peony is peculiar to our country and it is praised as the most beautiful flower of the country and king of flowers because of such features as big flowers, bright color, and strong fragrance.

[9:40:54, March 18, 2009] Li Hongfa: 3. The development of Heze International Peony Festival.  With the approval of six ministries of the State Council, the first Heze International Peony Festival was held successfully in April 1992, as one of the 100 national tourism activities. Seventeen sessions had been held by 2008.

[9:44:34, March 18, 2009] Li Hongfa: 4. The preparations for Heze International Peony Festival 2009 and arrangements. Heze International Peony Festival 2009 will begin on April 16. A total of nearly 30 activities have been planned, and they include the opening ceremony of Heze International Peony Festival 2009 together with a large-scale square theatrical performance and a special entertainment evening organized by Shandong Provincial Performance Company and the Office of the Organizing Committee of Heze International Peony Festival 2009, the 2009 (spring) China Heze Conference on Investment and Trade jointly sponsored by Shandong Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Department, Shandong Provincial Committee of China International Trade Promotion Committee and Heze Municipal People’s Government, the Sixth China Peony Floral Art Exhibition & the Second International Peony Floral Art Exhibition jointly organized by the Peony Subcommittee of China Flower Association and the Peony District People’s Government, and the Sixth Grand Wedding Ceremony of National Flower 2009 jointly organized by various Heze municipal departments.

[9:45:56, March 18, 2009] Li Hongfa: There will be more than 20 separate activities, including
the National Food and Famous Snack Expo hosted by the Joint Commission of the Mayors of the Great Beijing-Kowloon Economic Cooperation Zone and Heze Municipal People`s Government,
the Sixth Heze City Housing Industry Expo, the Third China (Caoxian) International Asparagus Festival, China (Juancheng) International Human Hair Lifestyle Festival, the Seventh Peony Cup Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition, the Fourth Heze City Roller Skating Invitational Tournament, Heze City Peony Cup Instrumental Music Competition, the Launching Ceremony of the 2009 Heze City’s National Fitness, The Large-scale Square Performance entitled “The City of Flowering Peony” by famous Heze artists, the 2009 Selection Match of the Image Ambassador of Peony & the Selection Match of New Singing Stars, the Peony District’s First Art Festival & the Sixth Amateurs’ Performance, and the 2009 Heze City 400-meter automobile race of linear acceleration.

[9:48:02, March 18, 2009] Li Hongfa: Friends, Heze peony flowers are blossoming in the bright spring sunshine and welcoming visitors from all corners of the world! The nine million warm and hospitable Heze people are expecting your presence! Thank you.

[10:06:42, March 18, 2009] Kong Fanke: Today’s press conference is over. Thank you.