Organizers of the 12th International Sculpture Symposium which started on July 14 in the city of Changchun have been delighted by the responses worldwide and the number of artists from around the world who have showed up.

This major Northeast China event is taking place in the Changchun High-tech Development Area (CHDA), with more than 400 sculptors from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, and several dozen other countries.

More than 1,200 samples of artists' works were submitted and the organizers selected 110 of the best. The theme of this year is "Innovation, Leap and Dream".

There are two International Sculpture Conferences running in conjunction with the event. Previous sessions have had more than 500 sculptures on display and several hundred artists taking part.

But, organizers say that this year's show is larger and of better quality, than at any of the past events.

Local government officials have also said that they see the works as a valuable cultural symbol of their city's global engagement.

"It's a real pleasure for CHDA and the people of Changchun to welcome artists from around the world and to promote art, culture, and friendship," commented Sun Yaming, director of CHDA administration and the assistant to the mayor of Changchun, at the opening ceremony.

The CHDA is one of China's first national high-tech development zones and has played a major role in the city's economic development, as well as the province's, over the past two decades, officials said.

The organizers plan to keep the sculptures permanently on display at the Changdongbei Urban Ecological Wetland Park. This 9.7-square-kilometer park is expected to open before October. It will be the largest park of its kind in the Northeast and will combine natural beauty with leisure, entertainment, and tourist services.

(China Daily 07/27/2011 page14)