Eternal peace helps to achieve the dream of harmony, and creative nature is the key to a green future. On the evening of October 22, the 178-day-long International Horticultural Exposition 2011 Xi'an came to an end in Chan-Ba, Xi'an.

Closing ceremony of the International Horticultural Exposition 2011 Xi'an (Reporter: Feng Wei, photo by Wang Xudong)

Zhao Leji, Secretary of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress attended the ceremony and announced the closing of International Horticultural Exposition 2011 Xi'an. Zhao Zhengyong, Governor of Shaanxi Province and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of International Horticultural Exposition 2011 Xi'an, AIPH President Doeke Faber all delivered speeches. Sun Qingyun, Member of the Standing Committee of CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, Secretary of the CPC Xi'an Municipal Committee and Director of the Executive Committee of the International Horticultural Exposition Xi'an, chaired the closing ceremony.

Opening on April 28, the International Horticultural Exposition 2011 Xi'an attracted the participation of 52 countries and regions as well as 58 domestic cities, enterprises and public institutions. The exhibitors displayed their unique and colorful gardening, architecture, science and technology as well as their respective cultures. The Expo in total received over 15,720,000 visitors from home and abroad, leading a green, environmentally-friendly and low-carbon life style. Lasting for nearly half a year, the Expo finally came to a close as scheduled last night.

On behalf of the Shaanxi provincial Party committee, Provincial People's Government and Organizing Committee of International Horticultural Exposition 2011 Xi'an, Zhao Zhengyong expressed heartfelt thanks to the people who have given support to and participated in the Expo. He stated: “The Expo is a grand event for the gathering of achievements of gardening civilization, international exchanges and communication and the sharing of happiness. Focused on the theme of ‘eternal peace & harmony between nature & mankind, nurturing the future earth’, the Expo participants created wonderful interpretations of the concept of “green leads the trend”, presenting us with the beautiful prospect of mankind developing from an industrial civilization to an ecological civilization. The Expo is a grand international event successfully held in northwest China under the background that the world economy is greatly influenced by the financial crisis. With the kind consideration of the Central Committee of the CPC and the State Council and support from related state departments, institutions, the AIPH and friends from all walks of life, Shaanxi Province spared no effort to ensure the success of the Expo. Here, I want to express my highest respect to all the constructors, managers, volunteers and participants of the Expo. The Expo is a grand event that will leave precious cultural heritage to Xi'an and Shaanxi Province in the future. During the 178-day exhibition of achievements of ecological civilization, we have gained rich ecological wealth, and promoted the Expo spirit of diligence, cooperation, people-oriented and openness, which is sure to encourage and inspire the citizens of Shaanxi Province to unite and to compose a new chapter of the scientific development of Shaanxi”. Mr. Zhao stated that the grand gardening event closed as scheduled, but civilization will be passed from generation to generation with the great poem of eternal peace and harmony taking root and blossoming. Let us work together and struggle in the unforgettable memories and profound enlightenment left by the Expo to give a new look of Chang’an to the world.

Doeke Faber recognizes the efforts made to reflect the theme of “eternal peace & harmony between nature & mankind, nurturing the future earth”, and expressed his appreciation of the huge changes brought by the Expo. He thinks the successful hosting of the Expo has profound significance which can foster the love of nature in our hearts. He also stated that the success belongs to us and our descendants, and expressed his gratitude to all the Shaanxi people, the Xi’an Municipal Government and the China Flower Association for their dedication to the Expo.

An austere but grand awards ceremony was held during the closing ceremony, during which the Shanghai Garden won the Award of International Horticultural Exposition 2011 Xi'an and AIPH Award, the Hanzhong Garden and Chengdu Garden received the grand prizes of International Horticultural Exposition 2011; and the Shaanxi Province and Xi’an City respectively won the Excellent Organizing Award and Outstanding Contributions Award. The Organizing Committee of International Horticultural Exposition 2011 Xi'an also presented the Special Guidance Award to the AIPH.

In the autumn rain, an artistic performance entitled “Eternal peace and harmony” was staged in three parts including the “Legend of Guangyun", “Coming of Flowers” and “Blooming of the Future”. Through carefully arranged shows including a large-scale song and dance show entitled “Giving You a Chang’an”, and “Chang’an Flower”, a fashion show performed by models from 50 countries, the pursuit of “harmony between nature and mankind of the ancient capital was fully interpreted, expressing the beautiful idea of the construction of an ecological civilization in Xi’an.

The participants of the closing ceremony included central and relevant ministers as well as provincial and municipal leaders, provincial veteran comrades An Qiyuan and Li Xibo, Lou Qinjian, Jiang Zelin, Wei Minzhou, Members of the Standing Committee of the CPC Provincial Committee of Shaanxi, Chen Baogen, Standing Committee of Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress, the Political Consultative Conference of Shaanxi Province, forces in Shaanxi, and the Mayor of Xi’an, Dong Jun, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Xi'an Municipal Committee, Wang Qiwen, Secretary of the CPC Leading Group of the Standing Committee and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee, Ding Jian, Li Qiushi, Yang Dianzhong, Yue Huafeng, Du Hangwei, Yang Guodong and Zhao Hongzhuan, Members of the Standing Committee of the CPC Xi'an Municipal Committee, friends from sister cities, international friends and representatives, compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as representatives from exhibitors, relevant enterprises and the media.

Before the closing ceremony, the Provincial Committee of the CPC, Provincial Government, Xi'an Municipal Committee and Government held a closing banquet in the Chan-Ba Ecological District.