Beijing, March 1, 2008  The Press Conference to Solicit Designing and Planning Scheme for Chinese Cultural Symbolic City held at the Briefing Hall of the Information Office of the State Council. 

The project is approved by China's President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, is designed to highlight the importance of Chinese civilization to the world.  It will be based at the birthplace of Confucius in Shandong Province.

"The overall layout of the Symbolic City will combine the three areas, in which historical and cultural resources will be effectively protected, improved and integrated." said Shandong Governor Jiang Daming.

The project will be made after design plans are finalized, and forecasts the total cost to surpass 30 billion yuan (about 4.2 billion U.S. dollars estimated in 2004). Construction is expected to start before 2010.

Xu Jialu, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said: "The construction of the Symbolic City is not only a project of Shandong and China, but a Chinese gift to the whole world."

Elizabeth B. Wang, President of the Chinese Cultural Foundation, was honored to read a letter of congratulations from Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg.  She was proud to represent the Chinese Cultural Foundation in its participation and support of the "Chinese Cultural Symbolic City Project" at the Press Conference.

"On behalf of all New Yorkers, I commend the Chinese Cultural Foundation and everyone involved with the Chinese Cultural Symbolic City Project for helping Chinese men, women, and children share their culture with their friends throughout the five boroughs and around the world."

Michael R. Bloomberg
Mayor 

H.E. Xu Jialu (center on the left), Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress and Director General of the Expert Advisory Committee of Chinese Cultural Symbolic City; H.E. Zhou Tienong (center on the right), Vice Chairman of the National Committee of CPPCC; Mr. Li Jianguo (third on the left), Secretary of CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Shandong Provincial People's Congress; Mr. Jiang Daming (third on the right), Vice Secretary of CPC Shandong Provincial Committee, Governor of Shandong Province; and  Dr. Tsang Hin-Chi (second on the right), Member of the NPC Standing Committee, Honorary Vice Chairman of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and President of Goldlion Holdings Ltd. addressed at the Press Conference.

Zhou Tienong (right), Vice Chairman of the National Committee of CPPCC and Zhai Weihua (left), Vice Chairman of the Publicity Department of CPC Central Committee announces the opening of the official website of the Chinese Cultural Symbolic City:  www.ccsc.gov.cn

The event was chaired by Mr. Li Qun, Member of the Standing Committee of CPC Shandong Provincial Committee, Director General of Publicity Department of Shandong Province, and Deputy Director General of Shandong Provincial Planning and Construction Commission of Chinese Cultural Symbolic City.  More than 300 people including all the major world news agencies attended.