Guangzhou will highlight its status as China's most economically developed city via its 2008 bid for the title of "National Civilized City".

On the morning of November 22, a convention was held at the Sun Yet-Sen Memorial Hall to review the city's experience in promoting spiritual civilization in 2004 and 2005 and to mobilize the community to bid for the title of a "National Civilized City" in 2008. A grand ceremony was held to honor 1,242 individuals and organizations that had contributed to the spiritual civilization promotion in 2004 and 2005.

Hu Zhongmei, Director of the Provincial Office for Spiritual Civilization, stated that as the capital of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou is uniquely positioned to bid for the title of "National Civilized City" in the coming year. As municipalities directly under the Central Government are not eligible for the title, Guangzhou will be the most economically developed city to bid for the title.

In addition to economic strength, Guangzhou enjoys other advantages such as high levels of innovation, an enthusiastic citizenry and sound operational infrastructures. In spite of a tight schedule, a rigorous evaluation process and fierce competition, Mr. Hu is fully confident of winning the title.

The Secretary of the CPC Guangzhou Municipal Committee, Zhu Xiaodan, emphasized that the bidding efforts for the titles of "National Civilized City", "National Sanitary City", "National Model City for Environmental Protection", "National Garden City", "National Wooded City" and "China's Best Tourist City" should be combined. He also said that deadlines should be set for the completion of preparations, and that next year the local government should give first priority to the bidding for the tile of a "National Civilized City".

Mr. Zhu also vowed to improve people's welfare in the bidding process and to commit greater resources to improving people's living standards.

Editor: Donald