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Deputy Representative Kuo Chung-hsi to Japan, Chairman James Huang of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, head curator Fukui Shohei for the Japanese Pavilion at EXPO Nagoya 2005 and EXPO Milan 2015, and floriculture genius Jasper Wu attended the press conference to promote the unique attraction of the Taichung World Flora Exposition.
Many Japanese media attended the press conference, including NTV, Nikkei, Yomiuri Shimbun, Sankei Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, Kyodo News, Japan Agricultural News, Tokyo Shimbun, Jiji Press and other major media to cover the preparation of Taichung World Flora Exposition.
The press conference invited the Glory of Taiwan Jasper Wu, who won the champion of 2012 Piverdie D’ OR at France, to demonstrate floriculture art based on the 2018 Taichung World Flora Exposition slogan of “The Sound of Blooming”. Flowers and other simple materials were immediately transformed into beautiful artworks by the skillful hands of Jasper Wu at the press conference. He demonstrated the multiple utilization versatility and the different possibilities of flowers, which astonished attending the Japanese people.
He overcame the physical limitation of unconscious hyperspasmia and shouting due to Tourette Syndrome and demonstrated his skills and energy on floriculture creation, becoming the first Taiwanese to win floricultural contests at Japan and Europe and won countless other international floricultural designing contests.
“What is the sound of blooming?” Mayor Lin Chia-lung stated that this is the topic 2018 Taichung World Flora Exposition wants to ponder on with the visitors. As for the theme “Rediscover GNP”, Mayor Lin explained that GNP means “Green”, “Nature” and “People”, which is also related to Japan, because the discussion of “Green GNP” started in Japan during the 1970’s. Such concept told us that, while developing economy, we also have to take environment protection and the improvement of people’s lives into consideration. He said that by inviting Fukui Shohei as the main consultant of this Flora Expo, he hopes to combine Japanese experience to make the Taichung World Flora Exposition one of its kind. He not only wants visitors to hear the sound of blooming, he also wanted the world to admire Taiwan.
Mayor Lin also stated that, choosing Japan as the first oversea press conference of the Flora Expo, he wished more tourists can visit the Flora Expo at Taichung. Currently, about 1.9 million Japanese visitors visit Taiwan annually. He hoped that through this Flora Expo, 1 million additional visitors can visit Taiwan and further promote the bilateral exchange between the two countries.
In the end, the mayor also introduced the logo of the Flora Expo to the media. Mayor Lin explained that the green leaves, blue water flow and orange flowers used on the logo represent ecology, life and production which symbolize the features of the three exposition areas of the Flora Expo. Besides that, there are also jumping figures hidden behind it, which resemble the map of Taiwan, symbolizing the close interdependency between mankind and the environment.
Mr. Fukui, the main consultant of this Flora Expo, said, when Mayor Lin invited him, the mayor said that he wanted to transform the cold number of GNP into one with warmth. Hence, he agreed to act as the main consultant of the Flora Expo. As for the attempts to present flowers and greenery and the movement to build a sustainable green city in this Flora Expo, he thinks that these are all major agendas in developed countries. Therefore, he believes that due to the great exhibition capability, organization capability and skill standard of this Flora Expo, it will become a top world-class Flora Expo.
Deputy Representative Kuo stated that the friendship between Taiwan and Japan had endured many challenges and resulted in better and deeper friendship. More than 6 million tourists from both countries visited each other annually and 80% of the people expressed positive feelings toward each other. The relationship between Taiwan and Japan has become a role model of inter-national friendship. Given that Japan is about to enter its cherry blossom season, he expected that based on the foundation of good friendship, the relationship between Taiwan and Japan can blossom beautiful flowers.
He also mentioned that Taichung is the largest city in Central Taiwan and people from Central Taiwan all have a passionate heart. Besides the Flora Expo, the Taiwan-Japan Tourism Summit Forum is also scheduled to be held at Taichung next year. He expected from the bottom of his heart that Japanese people can visit Taichung with enthusiasm to experience local customs.
The city government pointed out that, during the preparation process of the Flora Expo, in order to preserve the habitats of leopard cats and cultural heritage at Houli Horse Ranch, it changed the location of the Flora Expo by changing the exposition area from one into three, thus gaining international approval. AIPH especially renamed the Taichung Flora Expo into the 2018 Taichung World Flora Exposition to recognize Taichung’s emphasis on ecological conservation.
The Flore Expo is not a one-off and firework kinds of festival, but an opportunity for transformation. The city government confirmed the sustainably usage of all the venues in advance before conducting further exhibition planning. The Flora Expo just “rented the venues”. As for the surrounding constructions of transportation, economic, tourism and industry will be maintained after the exposition to promote sustainable development to local areas.
The three exposition areas of the Taichung World Exposition are “Houli Horse Ranch & Forest Park Area”, “Waipu Yongfong Park Area” and “Fengyuan Huludun Park” which will exhibit the concepts of ecology, production and life. The Flora Expo will transform Taichung into a city of garden and present the beauty of Taiwan through it. Currently, all constructions and operations are still underway. It is scheduled for service trials in August 2018 and will be officially opened on November.