"French visions: city, architecture and sustainable development," a large exposition on contemporary French architecture and city planning, will open in Beijing on April 5.

Lu Jun, a senior official with the Chinese Ministry of Culture in charge of the China-French Culture Year, told Xinhua Friday that the show is an important program of the French Culture Year that kicked off last October. He said that 350 of architecture works will be displayed in the style of a picture, liquid display terminal and model show, covering 1,000 square meters at the Beijing Exhibition Hall for City Planning.

Bertrand Lemoine, the show's chief French coordinator, said it would focus on the quality and innovation of architecture, sustainable development and prospects of the city and the cultural and technological impact of city planning. The show will be divided into 10 sections including planning for public space, transportation extending in all directions, city image and intellectual spirit and reconstruction of historic relics.

Chinese and French architects have enhanced dialogue and cooperation over recent years, and have worked in cooperation on many buildings in more than 40 Chinese cities, he said.

According to the organizers, a forum on architecture will be held simultaneously with the show. Architects, experts and estate agents will be invited to have discussions on such issues as environment, residence and protection of historic relics.

Source: Xinhua