Anhui hosts Expo-related forum

Anhui Governor Wang Sanyun gives a speech.

An Expo-themed forum entitled "There Would Be No City Without Hui The Culture of Hui and Urban Development" was held in the City of Huangshan, Anhui Province. Originating at the foot of world-renowned Mt. Huang, the Hui culture is generally recognized as the origin of Chinese urban culture, which echoes the theme of Expo 2010 "Better City, Better Life."

Officials at the forum, including former Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference vice president Chen Jinhua and Anhui Governor Wang Sanyun, paid tribute to the Hui people's historical and cultural heritage, and acknowledged its contemporary value to urban development.

Zhang Wei, vice president of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said that the forum demonstrates the Hui culture's influence on the modern urban lifestyle. He was confident that the Shanghai World Expo's theme of urban development would certainly have a great significance for the province of Anhui.

Scholars from across the country exchanged their understanding of World Expo's role in China's process of industrialization and modernization. Despite the challenges of the economic recession, deputy director of the Expo's executive committee Zhou Hanmin still expressed his confidence on the success of Expo Shanghai.

Wu Zhiqiang, chief planner of Shanghai World Expo Park, also presented the scheme for Expo Park to participants.

Expo-themed provincial forums have been held in several provinces since April this year.