CITY government departments and residents are geared up for the First Shenzhen International Cultural Industry Fair (ICIF), which will open Thursday (Nov. 18).

Following the China Hi-Tech Fair, the ICIF would be another large State-level and international exhibition to be held regularly in the city every year, Shenzhen Mayor Li Hongzhong told a citywide mobilization conference Friday.

Li said the city government would treat the ICIF as one important measure to carry out the strategy of building Shenzhen into a cultural city and step up the work of building the city into an international metropolis.

Since the city government is no longer responsible for the entire organization of the ICIF, participating enterprises and exhibitors will contribute to the cost.

Li asked all government departments in the fields of reception, tourism, foreign affairs, transport, customs and frontier inspection to provide first-class service for ICIF exhibitors and participants from home and abroad on the principle of "hospitality, respect, friendship and sincerity."

Li also called on all citizens to play a part in contributing to the success of the ICIF.

The general headquarters of the ICIF was set up Friday with Li Yizhen, deputy secretary of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPC as commander-in-chief.

Editor: Olivia