China to Hold First International Ikebana FairAn International Ikebana Fair, the first of its kind in China, will open in Shenzhen, a boomtown facing Hong Kong across a local river, on April 30.Ikebana is a Japanese word for the art of arranging flowers. Luo Meng, head of the organizing committee, said representatives from foreign countries, including the United States, Japan, Belgium, the Netherlands, and from 210 organizations from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, and the Chinese mainland will attend the fair. The fair is jointly sponsored by three organizations, including Shenzhen City Government and China Florists Association. During the six-day fair, Chinese and overseas masters of ikebana will demonstrate the art of arranging flowers, said Luo. Featuring the theme of "flowers and life," the fair will have eight exhibition sections with a combined floor space of 12,000 square meters, according to Luo. Shenzhen, also one of China's five special economic zones, has experienced earth-shaking changes in local economic development since China introduced its reform and opening-up drive in 1978. Forest coverage is 44.6 percent in Shenzhen, which falls under jurisdiction of Guangdong Province, much higher than the national average of 16 percent. It was given the title of "garden city" by International Gardens Association last year. The fair will show Shenzhen's determination of stepping up environmental and ecological protection while advancing local economy, said Luo. |
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