The 89th International Esperanto Conference will be held here from July 24 to 31, with nearly 1,800 delegates from more than 60 countries and regions to attend, organizers said Wednesday.
This is the second time for China to host the largest and most important meeting for Esperanto, following the 71st International Esperanto Conference in 1986, according to sources at a press conference given by the Information Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, Wednesday.
Li Hongjie, vice-president of the organizing committee, said the upcoming gala, with the theme of "language equality in international relations," will include many activities to facilitate the development of Esperanto, nurture its potential learners, and strengthen friendship and cooperation among different countries.
A China Week will be launched during the conference, featuring a symposium, an on-line Esperanto learners' meeting, a celebration for the 40th founding anniversary of the Esperanto wire by China Radio International, an exhibition, a dancing party and plantation of "Esperanto trees" in Beijing Chaoyang Park.
Li said the conference is not only a spectacular event for linguistic circle but also a platform for trans-cultural communication, displaying the modern image of China to the rest ofthe world.
The organizing committee will also arrange tours of places of interest in Beijing and the other parts of China, and publish a series of Esperanto books on China's achievements in its reform and opening drive.
The Esperanto was forged by polish doctor L. L. Zamenhof in 1887, with the aim to eliminate language obstacles in international contact and enhance mutual understanding among different nations.
The annual International Esperanto Conference has never been stalled since 1950, except for the two world wars.
Statistics shows there are about 10 million Esperanto speaking people in the world. China published its first Esperanto magazine "China Report" in 1950, and the All-China Esperanto League the year after. So far, China has more than 10,000 quintessential learners, among some 400,000 people who have attended Esperanto courses.
Two official websites have been launched for the coming conference -- www.china.com.cn/esperanto/1013.htm, and www.espero.com.cn/uk2004.
(Xinhua News Agency July 15, 2004)
