Leaders from world cities of long history gather in Nanjing
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-05-07 10:42

The Fair of World Cities with Long History of Culture opened here last Saturday, has attracted mayors and leaders from over 20 well-known domestic and foreign cities.

The fair, which is scheduled to close Thursday, is characterized by a series of activities featuring cultural exchanges between different cities and countries, including talks between mayors of world-famous cities, the forum of cultural elite from home and abroad, exhibitions on Chinese and foreign cultures,shows and a carnival, according to Miao Helin, director of the organizing committee of the fair.

Mayors, vice mayors and speakers of city parliaments from more than 10 foreign cities of global fame, such as Florence of Italy, Barcelona of Spain, Kyoto and Osaka of Japan, Leipzig of Germany, St. Petersburg of Russia and Vienna of Austria, participated the fair

Among the participants are also leaders from domestic cities including former imperial capitals like Beijing, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Luoyang, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng and Anyang, and cities on the UNESCO World Heritage list like Lijiang in southwest China's Yunnan Province, Pingyao in the northern province of Shanxi and Chengde in Hebei Province neighboring Beijing.

Nanjing, the venue for the fair, is one of prestigious "Four Ancient Capitals" in China that also honor Beijing, Xi'an and Luoyang.

Nanjing has a city history of nearly 2,500 years and served as the capital for ancient Chinese dynasties for 440 years. It has now over 1,000 valuable cultural relics.