Xi to address Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations

BEIJING - President Xi Jinping will deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations to be held on May 15 in Beijing, a senior official said Thursday.

Xu Lin, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the State Council Information Office, made the announcement at a press conference.

Under the theme of "exchanges and mutual learning among Asian civilizations and a community with a shared future," the conference includes an opening ceremony and sub-forums, said Xu, also vice president of the event's executive committee.

More than 2,000 government officials and representatives of various circles from 47 Asian countries and other countries outside the region will attend the opening ceremony and forums, said Xu.

A grand Asian culture carnival, an Asian civilization week, and an Asian food festival will also be held during the event.

The culture carnival is expected to gather around 30,000 people from home and abroad, according to the official.

The Asian civilization week features parades, cultural performances, a culture and tourism exhibition, a film week, and a joint exhibition of Asian civilizations.

The food festival will be held in four cities: Beijing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, and Chengdu.

So far, more than 2,800 Chinese and foreign journalists have signed up to cover the conference. And Beijing has recruited more than 3,700 volunteers for the event, figures from the organizer show.

The conference is expected to reach rich and concrete results, such as a series of bilateral and multi-lateral initiatives and agreements, and the results of projects and research will also be announced during the conference, Xu said at the press conference.