Horticultural expo starts in Chengdu

The 2024 Chengdu International Horticultural Exhibition kicked off on Friday in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, bringing the beauty and wonder of plants and flowers to millions of people.

Under the theme “park city, beautiful habitat”, the expo will showcase a wide range of plants, flowers and garden styles from around the world in 113 gardens at the main site in the Chengdu Eastern New Area, as well as four sub-gardens. locations.

In a speech at the opening ceremony, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng emphasized the importance of countries strengthening dialogue and cooperation in ecological civilization.

“The world continues to face global environmental challenges such as climate change and biodiversity conservation, and achieving the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals remains a challenge,” he said.

He suggested that countries around the world should join hands and work together to map out governance and response strategies, improve the environmental management system and explore and develop solutions for sustainable development.

Han said China will work with all parties to uphold a vision of global governance centered on shared growth through discussion and cooperation. “I hope that the green development philosophy promoted by Expo 2024 Chengdu will be a motivation for us to create a better future,” he said.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Leonardo Capitanio, president of the International Association of Horticultural Producers, said the expo will highlight the importance of a green city, ecological development and the role of plants in redefining livable cities.

“Visitors to the expo will see for themselves why plants matter as they immerse themselves in horticultural wonders from around the world,” he said.

“We live in a world facing many challenges, not least the fight against climate change. AIPH believes that horticulture will play an increasingly important role in enabling cities to adapt to changing climates, and in improving health and wellbeing. of the citizens,” he said.

Capitanio said the Chengdu Expo is a unique experience, and urged everyone to go to Chengdu and see for themselves.

Wang Fengchao, mayor of Chengdu, said the city is fully prepared to present a high-quality horticultural festival with “characteristics of the time, international standards, elements of China and characteristics of Chengdu.”

In line with the philosophy of “green and low-carbon, economic and sustainable, shared and inclusive”, the event will promote exchanges between gardens from 32 countries and regions of the five continents and gardens from the South of the Yangtze River, North China and Sichuan, contributing to building a beautiful planet Earth and a human community with a shared future, he said.

Wang said the main site has preserved 80 percent of the original landscape and more than 100 native plants, while the four sub-sites are home to Sichuan-style bonsai, the flower industry, modern agronomy and biodiversity conservation.

More than 2,000 activities for all ages will be conducted during the 186-day event to increase visitor engagement, he said. The expo is expected to attract 5 million visitors from China and abroad.