Distinguished Guests,
Ladies & Gentlemen,

Today begins the 1st China (Yunfu) International Exhibition for Stone & Technology together with the 1st China (Yunfu) International E-Fair for Stone & Technology hosted by the People's Government of Yunfu Municipality. The Fair is a grand international meeting of the stone industry.

We feel very glad to have so many enterprises and friends of the stone and other industries from home and overseas. You will help add brighter brilliance to Yunfu, a stone capital in South China.

I, hereby, on behalf of the CPC Yunfu Municipal Committee, the People's Government of Yunfu Municipality and the 2.5 million people of Yunfu, extend our open arm welcome to the officials from the upper authorities, to the guests from home and overseas, and to all friends from all circles. I would also like to convey my sincere thanks to the hard-working organizers, co-organizers and supporters for their contribution to the opening of the Fair according to schedule.

Yunfu is a Land of Stone Materials with good reputations and rich stone resources. There is a history of over 200 years in stone processing. At present, there are more than 4000 stone enterprises forming a Stone Building Materials Gallery of 100 Li Long.

There are a great number of outstanding stone enterprises, skillful workmen and craftsmen, advanced processing machines and technology. Fine quality blocks and precious stones, from everywhere of China and the main parts of the world, have been gathered in Yunfu and processed into several hundred products of different specifications. Our products include stone slabs, stone borders, stone pillars and columns for decoration as well as stone furniture, stone sculptures and carvings, etc.

Yunfu has also gained the reputation as the Kingdom of Stone Building Materials, being one of the biggest stone industrial and trading bases in China.

The present Fair in Yunfu is a good opportunity for us to review the stone industrial development in Yunfu, to have a better understanding of the stone industrial developing situation and marketing information of the world. It is also a golden opportunity for the Yunfu people to learn from our friends of the same stone industry from home and overseas before China enters the WTO.

International exchanges like this is greatly beneficial to Yunfu to be better known by the outside world and to join the world economically. It will be greatly helpful to an even greater progress of the stone industry in Yunfu in the new century.

Yunfu is a young municipality full of hopes and potentials for further development. Since her founding 6 years ago, under the leadership of the Yunfu Authorities, the Yunfu people have done a lot to perfect the infrastructure. Modern transport and telecom networks are available to ensure convenient transportation by railway, highway and waterway, to ensure information transfer, and to ensure satisfied water and power supply for production and daily life.

On the other hand, Yunfu enjoys fine environment, honest people, good public order and a stable society.

With her investment environment getting better and better, Yunfu has developed into a new magnet for investment. Up to present, there have been over 1000 enterprises from home and overseas investing and setting up their enterprises in Yunfu with a business scope of stone processing, machine building, electronics, textiles and garment, agriculture development, etc.

With our open arms, we welcome all friends from home and overseas to Yunfu for facts-finding, sightseeing, business talks and trades. We are looking forward to co-operating in economy and technology with all our potential partners so as to invest and develop together in Yunfu. Ladies and gentlemen, we are now engaging in an undertaking of turning stone into gold. Let's join hands to create brilliant achievements in the new century.

I wish the 1st China (Yunfu) Exhibition & E-Fair for Stone & Technology every success!

I wish all of you every success in business, excellent health and all the best!