The closing ceremony of the Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition (Expo 2019) was held on 9 October 2019.
Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Keqiang pointed out in his remarks that this year the horticultural exhibition, themed Live Green, Live Better, was a big success and brought positive results. Speaking at the opening ceremony in April 2019, President Xi Jinping called for joining forces to turn the planet into a beautiful garden and to create a community with a shared future for humanity (a community of common destiny).
Expo 2019, an environmental festival where varied cultures exchanged their experience, was held to promote the development of contacts between various countries and cultures, strengthen their spiritual ties and expand ecological cooperation. The exhibition was also a magnificent fair dedicated to innovation, science and technology, demonstrating the bright prospects of green technology.
Premier Li Keqiang also noted that in the past 70 years the Chinese people had achieved major successes in economic and social development and that green civilisation had achieved remarkable progress. The Earth's vegetated area has increased by 5 percent since the beginning of the 21st century, and China accounts for approximately a quarter of it. "We will continue to strengthen interaction in the field of ecological civilisation, and facilitate the policy of green economy and sustainable development in the emerging countries, as well as actively implement the Paris Agreement to fight climate change," Li Keqiang said in his concluding remarks.
The exhibition was attended by delegations from 110 countries and international organisations, as well as 120 public associations. The programme of the 162-day expo included over 100 national days and over 3,000 cultural events aimed at promoting the dialogue of civilisations and green cooperation.
Expo 2019 was an innovative event when it comes to modern horticultural technology, demonstrating the possibilities of green technology. Some 10 million Chinese and foreign visitors have visited the exhibition's gardens to admire the beauty of nature and to see that humankind and nature can live in harmony.
The guests of honour at the closing ceremony were Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia Hor Namhong, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Kubatbek Boronov and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Hajibala Ibrahim oglu Abutalibov.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was one of the first to support the idea of the 2019 Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition.
The Honour Day of the SCO held at the Beijing horticultural expo on 6 July 2019 was attended by over 300 guests, including ambassadors and diplomats of the SCO member states, observer countries and dialogue partners, as well as representatives of China's government, business, scientific and technological circles and the media. SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov said in his address that the SCO fully shared the green development concept and urged everyone to protect nature and actively contribute to the development of ecological civilisation.
The SCO Garden and Pavilion attracted many visitors, who enjoyed their contents and design.
On 8 October 2019, the Organising Committee of the 2019 Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition awarded a golden certificate to the SCO Garden and a special recognition certificate to the SCO Pavilion.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation presented its horticultural achievements in a pavilion and an exhibition garden, which had three vital elements in common — earth, air and water. These elements are consistent with the main goals of the SCO — cooperation, joint development and prosperity.
The design and contents of these facilities reflect the common striving of the SCO member states to protect nature and the environment, maintain a favourable environment and ensure sustainable green development in the SCO space.