Process for Applying for Shenyang International Flower & Gardening Exposition 2006

International Flower & Gardening Exposition is a specialized international exposition approved by AIPH, an international horticulture and flower organization. It has been held for more than 20 times by now, most of which are in developed European and American countries and Japan. It has been held in developing countries only once, i.e. “China Kunming International Flower & Gardening Exposition 99”. As “International Flower & Gardening Exposition” can bring huge influence world wide and comprehensive economic benefits to the host site, many cities in the world are attracted to apply for such an exposition.

In October 2003 when Chen Zhenggao, mayor of Shenyang city, was visiting Japan, the Japanese JCOM company (which has successfully helped Shizuoka Japan to apply for International Flower & Gardening Exposition in 2003) suggested to Mayor Chen that Shenyang should apply for “International Flower & Gardening Exposition, and they would give their help. JCOM is a sole subsidiary of Japanese JTB, the world largest travel agency, whose main business is exposition. It has participated eight times in application for International Flower & Gardening Exposition and the construction work. It is also one of the sponsors of Nagoya International Flower & Gardening Exposition 2005. JCOM has close business relations and personal contacts with AIPH. One of its employees is in AIPH headquarter in Holland, responsible for coordinating relations with AIPH. JCOM believes that “applying for International Flower & Gardening Exposition can quickly raise Shenyang's reputation world wide and increase foreign investment rapidly. This has been proved in many countries”.

Following precedent of the successful “China Kunming International Flower & Gardening Exposition 99” and materials concerning other countries' applications for “International Flower & Gardening Exposition” provided by JCOM, related departments of Shenyang Municipal Government and JCOM carried out appraisals regarding feasibility of Shenyang's conditions for successful applications. Experts sent by JCOM were invited to conduct site investigations in Shenyang Botanical Garden and the supporting urban facilities. They drew the conclusion that Shenyang is fully qualified for applying for International Flower & Gardening Exposition.

In November 2003, Mayor Chen Zhenggao sent a letter to Mr. Faber, chairman of AIPH, stating that Shenyang intend to applying for International Flower & Gardening Exposition 2006.

In February 2004, Zhao Changyi, vice mayor of the city, went to Holland to meet Mr. Faber, chairman of AIPH, and Mr. Brand, chairman of Operating Committee. He introduced the overall situation of Shenyang and expressed Shenyang's determination for applying for A2+B1 category International Flower & Gardening Exposition, which was approved by AIPH in principle. Mr. Faber sent a letter to Mayor Chen Zhenggao regarding this. Zhao Changyi, the vice mayor, also reported to leaders of China Flower Association and State Trade Promotion Commission when returned home, and received support of state trade department in charge as well as the approving authorities.

Early in March 2004, Yang Yazhou, assistant to mayor of Shenyang city, went to visit Luxemburg upon invitation, and made a statement to AIPH Operating Committee. JCOM presented descriptions of site investigation technical conditions. With close support of JCOM which has experiences of six successful applications, Shenyang went through the preliminary check smoothly.

In the last ten-day period of March 2004, mayor Chen Zhenggao investigated the site of International Flower & Gardening Exposition in Shizuoka, Japan during his visit in Japan, and did further researches regarding the construction, fund operation, site selection, and operation patterns etc..

In the mid ten-day period in May 2004, over 30 experts from home and abroad were invited to Shenyang to evaluate feasibilities of Shenyang's successful application of “International Flower & Gardening Exposition”. The scheme outline was proposed.

On June 29, July 7, and July 12, 2004, application for International Flower & Gardening Exposition 2006 was formally approved by the provincial government, China Flower Association and State Trade Promotion Commission, which agreed to be joint sponsors of “International Flower & Gardening Exposition” held in Shenyang.

On September 1, 2004, the 56 th convention of AIPH was held in Belgium. Representatives from 20 countries, including Japan, Germany, Britain, Canada and Holland etc., were present. The meeting gave hearings of the mid-reports regarding international expositions which were being held in Shizuoka Japan and Munich Germany. Expositions in five countries are highly appraised. At the same time, appraisals were held for applicants of B1 category International Flower & Gardening Exposition for 2005, 2006 and 2007 from Malaysia, China and Thailand. Representatives present at the 56 th AIPH Convention discussed the reasons, conditions, plans, and progress situations reported by the applicants carefully, following the principle of being objective, fair, equal and open, which has fully shown the practical spirit of the attendants who are responsible for world flower and gardening development. At the meeting Shenyang International Flower & Gardening Exposition 2006 and Thailand Flower & Gardening Exposition 2007 were passed unanimously.

At the board meetings of AIPH held in Belgium, Shenyang Municipal Government made a final application statement. With full preparations and vivid illustrations of Shenyang's advantage and basic conditions for holding “International Flower & Gardening Exposition”, no differences were raised by attendants with regard to Shenyang's application for “International Flower & Gardening Exposition”. The application was passed unanimously. However, the Italian Genoa, which presented its application statement together with Shenyang, was laid up for the time being for insufficient preparation on the excuse of requiring further investigations. The Malaysian LUMIT was rejected for failure to meet the conditions as deemed by AIPH experts after site investigations.

With great support of JCOM, delegation of Shenyang Municipal Government successfully obtained approval of AIPH after preparation of half a year, and has gained time and created conditions for Shenyang to hold Shenyang International Flower & Gardening Exposition in 2006. Mr. Faber of AIPH sent a letter of congratulations to Shenyang Municipal Government. Japan, Germany, Canada, Holland and Thailand etc. also sent letters of congratulations in succession for successful bid for the exposition.

Shenyang's application for A2+B1 category comes from the following considerations: Kunming held A1 category large international flower & gardening exposition, which can only be held once in one country for every ten years and needs to be applied 6-12 years in advance. A2 categories are international flower and gardening expositions which last no more than 20 days. B1 categories are domestic expositions with international participations. Choosing A2+B1 will combine the international participation of A2 category with long-lasting nature of B1 category, forming an international flower & gardening exposition with great international participations (A2 category requires participations of at least six countries while A1 category requires at least 10 countries) and 6-month expositions period. The International Flower & Gardening Exposition held in Shizuoka is of such category.

Fact will prove again that people of Shenyang will for sure hold Shenyang International Flower & Gardening Exposition 2006 successfully in a comparatively short period of time of preparation.