From March 27 to 28, just one year before the 2024 Chengdu International Horticultural Exhibition (hereinafter referred to as “Expo”), a delegation led by Mr. Leonardo Capitanio, President of the International Association of Horticultural Producers (hereinafter referred to as “AIPH”), visited Chengdu and inspected the preparatory work of the grand event through field trips.

    During the visit, how did Mr. Leonardo Capitanio comment on Chengdu’s work? What is his impression of the city? Here is an exclusive interview with Mr. Leonardo Capitanio.

    Q: Is this your first visit to Chengdu? What is your overall impression of the city?

    Mr. Leonardo Capitanio: This is my second time to be in China and first visit to Chengdu. It’s a great honor to come to Chengdu, a beautiful, fabulous city. This visit is very important for our whole team. I have a great impression of Chengdu. It’s a modern, technological city, and also an ecological, green city. Richly endowed by nature and with well-developed horticulture and landscaping industries, Chengdu has got ready for the Expo.

    Q: Through field trips, how do you evaluate Chengdu’s preparations for the Expo? What impressed you most?

    Mr. Leonardo Capitanio: In my perspective, the Expo to be held here next year will be a treasure featuring ecological and cultural integrity that Chengdu will present to the world. Chengdu has a long history, profound culture and well-established industries. It is the reason why we chose Chengdu to host the event. Through the discussions with the local people and field trips, I believe in Chengdu’s potential and I’m sure that the organizers can do their best to offer the public a great Expo.

    There are two things that impressed me a lot. First, Chengdu’s planning and preparations do not focus only on the event, but also on the development of industries involving flowers and horticulture. In Spring Garden Wonderland, a sub-venue for the Expo in Chengdu’s suburban Pidu District, flowers and plants are sold via live-streaming promotions, and packaged and distributed offline. This is a scene that I have never seen in other countries. I’m very happy to recommend this practice to the rest of the world. Second, Chengdu has made good plans for the re-use of the venues after the Expo. This is what we are highly concerned about.

    Q: What are your expectations for the Expo? And what will you talk about first when you introduce it to other partners?

    Mr. Leonardo Capitanio: I have been to many countries and cities in the world. I’m amazed by Chengdu. AIPH has high expectations for the opportunity to organize the Expo in a green and ever-blooming city like Chengdu.

    After I come back to my country, I will definitely recommend my friends to visit Chengdu, and let them know the friendliness of Chengdu people. At the same time, I would also recommend them to visit the venues for the Expo, which will be a wonderful experience. Here, I suggest that international expressions should be used to interpret and present the poetic nature of Chinese culture, so as to give tourists from all over the world a better understanding of traditional Chinese culture.

    In addition to Mr. Leonardo Capitanio, other members of the delegation also spoke highly of  Chengdu’s work for the Expo.

    “I like Chengdu very much. I will recommend Chengdu and the 2024 Chengdu International Horticultural Exhibition to the people across the world.” After having a good knowledge of Chengdu’s work, Ms. Karen Tambayong, Representative of Region VIII, AIPH, said that the visit to Chengdu is a very good opportunity to know well about the city’s progress of preparations, as well as its efforts towards cultural and ecological development. She also expressed her hope for a long-term friendly partnership with Chengdu to promote the exchange and growth of the horticulture and related industries in the world.

    “I took a lot of photos of Chengdu. I will show the world the progress of the Expo via my social media accounts, ” said Ms. Elena Terekhova, International Relations Manager, AIPH. In her view,  Chinese traditional culture is extensive and profound, and poetry is a treasure of Chinese culture. She hopes that the 2024 Chengdu International Horticultural Exhibition can incorporate more cultural elements of Chinese poetry, and use diverse and more elaborate ways of expression to interpret and present them, to enable people around the globe to know better and more about the beautiful artistic conception of Chinese poetry.

    “This is my fourth visit to Chengdu for the field investigation and evaluation of the work. The recent two years has seen dramatic changes of the Eastern New Area, an emerging modern, smart and ecological new area. We can see the construction of the Expo venue here is in full swing, that of the main frame is in orderly progress, and all kinds of plants have already been in place, far beyond my expectation,” said Mr. Zhang Yinchao, Secretary-general of the China Flower Association. He noted that Chengdu’s work efficiency is remarkable.

    “This is the second time that I have been in Chengdu. I came to the city for the first time in 1991. Chengdu has done very well in urban greening and ecological protection. Everyone I met here is very friendly. Chengdu is a really liveable city,” said Mr. Kevin Chung, Chair of Exhibitions Committee, AIPH. In his eyes, the construction progress of the Expo venues is much quicker than expected, and the locations and designs of the venues are highly people-oriented and well incorporate traditional and modern cultural elements of the city. “We are full of confidence in the success of the 2024 Chengdu International Horticultural Exhibition,” he said.