Impressed by China's green vision, international guests at the 2024 International Horticultural Exhibition praised the country's achievements in sustainable development, noting they could inspire similar initiatives worldwide.
Running from April 26 to Oct 28, the event gathered over 280 foreign guests from more than 50 countries and regions to tour the expo site on Friday, the first day it opened in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.
The expo showcases a diverse collection of flower and plant species as well as gardening cultures from all over the world at all 113 exhibition parks, including 39 international parks and 74 from China. Six core pavilions and seven major exhibition areas complete this horticultural showcase.
Chengdu, as the host city of the event and home to the largest exhibition park of all, has attracted much attention.
Clare Hart, vice-mayor of Montpellier, France, which joined hands with Chengdu in 1981 to become the first pair of sister cities between the two countries, said she was delighted to see the exhibition held in the city.
"I think it's a wonderful opportunity for Chengdu, we're very proud for Chengdu, as our sister city, to host such an exhibition. Chengdu is the city of park gardens, it's the city of dove trees, it's the city of the panda, of biodiversity," she said.
The expo prioritized green development throughout its planning and operations, as well as showcasing sustainable solutions for parks.
Many of the international guests expressed strong interest in the new technologies and equipment featured at the event.
"I think the green garden here is very interesting. It's not just providing a function, it's not just building biodiversity and improving the ecology of the area, it's doing it in a very beautiful fashion," said horticultural consultant Tim Edwards.
Some said they have witnessed how the Chinese government places great importance on ecological environment protection through the expo.
Part of China's systematic afforestation plans is the Three-North Shelter Forest Program, or the Green Great Wall project, in north, northeastern and northwestern China. The implementation of the program has helped many deserted places become lush with greenery, with trees casting a shade on the sand.
"I think the concept of the green Great Wall on this project is a great project to do, because not only will it achieve environmental objectives in its own right, but it will stimulate others around the world to do the same," said Tim Briercliffe, secretary general of the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH).
Int'l park designers inspired by green solutions at horticultural expo in China's Chengdu
President Xi Jinping has just wrapped up a six-day, three-nation trip to Europe with fruitful results.
From May 5 to 10, Xi paid state visits to France, Serbia and Hungary. Former and current government officials, experts in international relations, and ordinary citizens in the three European countries have hailed his visits as a major step to build closer ties and further cooperation between China and Europe.
Xi's state visit to France took place as the two countries mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relationship this year. During his talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on May 6, the two sides agreed to expand cooperation in green energy, smart manufacturing, biomedicine and artificial intelligence, among other areas.
Notably, Xi said China and France, both as permanent members of the UN Security Council, should speak out for the peaceful settlement of hotspot issues and contribute to a world of lasting peace and common security.
Speaking in an interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN) in Paris, Sylvie Bermann, former French Ambassador to China from 2011 to 2014, said Xi's visit to France helps promote understanding between the two countries amidst rising protectionism and mounting geopolitical tensions.
"It has to be done just to understand each other because we are very different cultural civilizations. So, I think yes, we should do that and try to understand. Because when you have negotiations, of course everybody is expressing its official position, but you have to go further than that," she said.
To strengthen the personal bonds between the two leaders, Macron on May 7 invited Xi to the Col du Tourmalet mountain pass in the Pyrenees, where the French president spent time as a child visiting his grandmother.
Against falling snow and brisk winds, Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, were treated to an outdoor folk dance performance on the terrace of a mountain restaurant. Afterwards, Xi and Macron enjoyed the local cuisine at the restaurant and exchanged views on bilateral ties and international issues.
Enthusiasm and hospitality continued on the second leg of Xi's Europe trip. After he arrived in Belgrade of Serbia on May 8, the Chinese president was greeted by a large welcoming crowd of nearly 20,000 people who assembled in front of the Palace of Serbia.
Xi greeted the well-wishers at the building's balcony with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and received thunderous applause and cheers as he waved to the crowd.
"For our country, for our President Vucic, and for us, it's very, very important this day," a beaming local woman in the crowd told CGTN.
During Xi and Vucic's talks on May 8, the two sides decided to deepen and elevate the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership and build a community with a shared future in the new era, further upgrading the ironclad China-Serbia ties.
The two leaders also witnessed the exchange of multiple cooperation documents including on Belt and Road cooperation, green development, digital economy, e-commerce, infrastructure, economic and technical cooperation, information and communication, agri-food, and the media.
"We are foreseeing collaboration in research in space, but also alleviation of poverty. So, these are our two main topics. Amazing day for Serbia and I think this is a big step for future collaboration between our two countries," said Jelena Begovic, Serbian Minister of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, in an interview with CGTN after attending the signing ceremony in Belgrade.
Upon his arrival at the Liszt Ferenc International Airport in Budapest on the evening of May 8, President Xi was welcomed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his wife and students from the Hungarian-Chinese Bilingual School.
During his visit, President Xi held talks with Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok and Prime Minister Orban, respectively, on May 9.
In a major move during Xi and Orban's talks, China and Hungary announced to elevate their bilateral relations to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era.
After the talks, Xi and Orban jointly witnessed the exchange of multiple cooperation documents on Belt and Road cooperation, economy and trade, investment, science and technology, culture, agriculture and other areas.
According to Levente Horvath, founding director of the Eurasia Center at the John von Neumann University in Hungary, Serbia and Hungary, both major countries in Central and Eastern Europe, consider China as their most important partner outside Europe.
"Serbia and Hungary are in the center of East European countries. They are [among] the biggest partners of China and of course, for us, China is the biggest partner outside of the European Union," Horvath said in an interview with CGTN in Budapest.
Xi's three-nation trip yields fruitful results
