'99 Kunming World Horti-Expo Opens 　　A grand opening ceremony for China '99 Kunming International Horticultural Exposition, the first Expo of its kind ever hosted by a developing country, was held at Kunming City, Yunnan Province in Southwest China, Friday evening. 　　Among the VIPs attending the opening ceremony were Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Monineath Sihanouk, Israeli President Ezer Weizman and his wife, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, Djibouti Prime Minister Barkat Gourad Hamadou, Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, Chinese Vice-Premier Li Lanqing, who is also Chairman of the '99 Expo Organizing Committee, and his wife Zhang Suzhen, Ole Philipson, president of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE), and his wife, and Otto Koch, President of the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH). 　　Vice-Premier Li Lanqing delivered an opening speech. 　　He said that "to respect nature is to respect man, and to protect the eco-environment is to protect our homeland on which we depend for survival. To enable ourselves and our children to live a better life and to build our shared homeland into a better place, we appeal for peaceful co-existence, and for harmonious development of man and nature." 　　"We appeal for attention to be given to environmental protection and for efforts to be made for sustainable development in the next century when we give priority to development," Li said, "Herein lies the purpose of the Expo, which is also an objective the Chinese Government is striving for." 　　The Chinese Vice-Premier expressed his confidence that the Expo would further promote the mutual understanding between the peoples of different countries in the world, enhance their friendship and cooperation and add a new chapter to humanity's effort to "respect nature and protect the eco-environment". 　　Addressing the ceremony, BIE President Philipson said that through his previous visits to China, he has felt "the growing understanding of the potential for China of this great and truly international and multicultural event". 　　"More than 90 countries have wished to participate -- a record for this kind of World Expositions and a great achievement on the part of the organizers," Philipson said. 　　"An Exposition of this quality and size, whether it may be Horticultural, Floral or a Universal Exposition, holds a myriad of opportunities both for the host nation and for the participating nations," he noted. "This is indeed a true forum for international understanding, for furthering the contacts between the nations and for bringing together people from many countries." 　　AIPH President Koch said in his speech that "we look upon a fantastic achievement of overwhelming beauty in international, regional and local garden displays." He expressed the expectations that landscapers and city planners may have great inspiration and ideas from this fine prospect in future city and garden works. 　　He believed that future major steps in plant breeding and growing techniques may arise from this Expo. 　　Koch said that all activities related to the Expo had a common purpose of mutual international understanding and collaboration along with improved presentation and protection of the nature. 　　After the speeches, Chinese President Jiang Zemin declared the China '99 Kunming International Horticultural Exposition officially open. 　　A gala singing and dancing performance was then given by some 7, 000 performers. The singing and dancing, named "A Romantic Melody of Heaven and Earth", were performed on a world-map-painted round stage centering round the Expo theme "man and nature". 　　The opening ceremony ended with a 40-minute pyrotechnic display at four sites in Kunming City. 　　More than 20,000 people, including guests from at home and abroad, and people from all walks of life of Yunnan Province, attended the opening ceremony and watched the gala show. Indepth 1999-05-01 Page1 Full Story in Chinese