The Penglai “Ode To Peace” International Culture and Art Festival, listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as part of the “International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World”, has been held for seven consecutive years in Penglai.
The Festival removed the differences between nation, civilization, region and country between the two coasts of the Pacific, all youths of different ethnic origins gathers under the flag of peace again, through singing, dancing, drawing, calligraphy… they called for peace, wished for peace, and created a spiritual home for mankind with their pure, innocent hearts.
International Fair Planning Center (HK), predecessor of IMCC, co-created the World “Peace City” with the Penglai Municipal Government, to have it situated on the stage of International Peace, and as an important action for following the global trends in peace & development as well as the development of Penglai. With sincere friendship with Penglai, IMCC extends the helping hands once more in co-organizing the Peace Festival along with the World Peace & Development Forum, an event that has been heralded as “the biggest meeting of all times to be held in the name of peace”. Whilst providing a stage for peace envoys around the world to praise the goodness of peace, this also provides the quickest pathway in introducing Penglai into becoming on of the world’s renowned cities.
In the ancient Penglai Pavilion Coastal Cultural Square, an exciting event with splendid lights was held. At the centre of the stage hangs the large emblem of dove (symbolizing peace), olive branch and Earth). The large scenery comprised of the Penglai Pavilion, Penglai Waterside City with the sea and clear skies. The key programmes of the Peace Festival include an art exhibition of “Ten Thousand Men, Ten Thousand Metres”, street music concerts, world film festival, grand cultural programme and the World Peace & Development Forum. With a rich content and wide scope for participation, youths and international friends around the world were attracted to take part. Representatives from the USA, India, Japan, Korea and China made speeches at the Forum, discussing about the “Youth Education and its sustainable developments”. Representatives from all countries agree unanimously that the youth are the world’s future, and they should be provided with a world of peace. Then, representatives discussed and signed the “Penglai Peace Manifesto”, with the main contents being propaganda to live in harmony and refusal to war.
Peace went beyond tribal and country boundaries, it overrides the difference between cultural concepts and values so that people in the whole world may have the broadest consensus and recognition. Youths of different ethnic regions and language gathered together, so do the UN officials. Then gathered the foreign diplomats, entrepreneurs, figures of education, culture and art… Peace and goodness in mankind is the passport to the world, in bringing all peace lovers of this world closer together.
People of Penglai have a long history for the love and pursuit of peace, which is the origin for the cooperation between IMCC and Penglai. “Ode To Peace” International Culture and Art Festival adds value to Penglai in becoming an international “Peace City”. This city brand has been injected with a strong force of life, and established a clear image internationally, with high praises and awareness from the public. During the Peace Festival, over several hundred million dollars of foreign investment agreements have been introduced to Penglai. The little contribution IMCC has made has been well returned.
Yet good news never end, which moved IMCC –
In August 2006, after discussion at a special meeting of the Asia-Pacific UNESCO Executive Committee, the members unanimously agreed to appoint Penglai as the permanent location to host the World Peace Forum, to be annually sponsored by the Asia-Pacific UNESCO.
“Ode To Peace” International Culture and Arts Festival, the most beautiful festival of the world!
「International Response」
Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Kofi Atta Annan, the current Secretary-General of the United Nations, gave epigraphs for the Long Paint Scroll of Peace of the Diplomats from 100 Countries, which was presented at the First Peace Festival.
The meeting of Executive Board of Asian Pacific Federation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations (AFUCA) was held in Penglai in August 2005. The representatives present at the meeting unanimously agreed that the Peace Festival helped to promote and made significant progress to world peace, and the meeting decided to include the festival as one of the regular activities of the UNESCO.
SHO NOGUCHI, the Senior Consultant of UNESCO, thought highly of the event and commended it being “One of the greatest assemblies in humanity for world peace.”
KOICHIRO MATSUURA, the Director-General of UNESCO, sent a long congratulatory telegram to the Peace Festival, encouraging the festival to plant seeds of peace in all people, and that the cultural development is a moral need of our current era.
Arab League Secretary General Amir Musa was present at the Peace Festival.
Anthony Williams, Mayor of Washington, D.C., designated August 17 of each year as the “Ode To Peace” International Culture and Art Festival Washington D.C. Day
Mr. Chen Haosu, the Chairman of Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, commented, “The Peace Festival had exhibited the passion of Penglai people to peace, and allowed more people to understand the history, culture and development of Penglai City in greater depth.”
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