China has made enormous progress in horticulture and environmental protection, said Doeke Faber, president of the Association of International Horticultural Producers (AIPH), on Saturday in Shenyang.

"I think China has made enormous progress in the development of horticulture. They have become more professional, more efficient and have done enormous job in treating environment very carefully, " Faber said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua before the 2006 Shenyang International Horticultural Exposition opens.

The exposition, which will be held from April 30 to Oct. 31 in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang, is to attract 10 million visitors from home and abroad, the city mayor Yang Yazhou said.

"Shenyang has become China's 'forest city' and it deserves the pride because local people have done a lot in environmental protection," he said.

This is the second time China has held the world-class gathering for horticulture. Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, hosted the expo in 1999.

"Shenyang has set a very good example in living in harmony with nature," Faber said, adding that "I think what Shenyang has done exactly follows the theme of this expo -- man live in harmony with nature. "

Source: Xinhua