Exposition 2004 of World's Great Historical and Cultural Cities 

Nanjing, China

　　Exposition 2004 of World's Great Historical and Cultural Cities, Nanjing, China will be held from April 30 to May 6 in Nanjing. The Exposition is jointly sponsored by Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Construction, State Administration of Cultural Heritage, and China National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The Exposition will be organized and hosted by Nanjing Municipal People's Government, Department of Culture and Department of Construction of Jiangsu Province. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Beijing Office and China Committee of the Conservation of Historical Cities are the supporters. 

　　  The Exposition 2004 of the World's Great Historical and Cultural Cities will have a pioneering significance in China. The activities will be focusing on the "regional, national, and international featured cultures". The philosophy of holding The Exposition is embodied in "Enjoy the brilliance of ancient capitals; Experience the wonders of the world"; the theme is "it is a festival of Nanjing people, for Nanjing people aspire to make friends with all the peoples in the world"; the people of Nanjing are expecting to "meet guests from the world in the famous historical and cultural city, and to enjoy yourselves in the festival activities in this city of ‘universal fraternity'". During the week-long Exposition, all the activities will be cultural and for the citizens, which will include 53 activities of 6 large categories such as: Dialogues between the international historical and cultural cities; Forums on Chinese culture; Cultural theme activities; Cultural exhibitions of the participating cities; Series of arts performances; and Carnivals.

        Dialogues between the international historical and cultural cities will include dialogues between the mayors, between the cultural celebrities and between the outstanding youths, respectively, on such topics as cities and human civilizations, culture and urban characteristics, and youths and the city's future. The mayors, the celebrities and artists of the following foreign and Chinese historical and cultural cities have been invited to The Exposition in Nanjing: 

        Foreign cities: Paris, Florence, Barcelona, Leipzig, St. Petersburg, Kyoto, Melaka, Vienna, Melbourne, Nagoya, and Taejon;

        Chinese ancient capital cities: Beijing, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Luoyang, Kaifeng, Anyang, and Zhenzhou; and

        Chinese cities that have been inscribed on the World Heritage List: Lijiang, Pingyao and Chengde.

        Based on the dialogues, a Nanjing Declaration will be jointly made on the cultural exchange and heritage protection of the world's great historical and cultural cities.