A five-day urban forestry symposium opened Monday in Suzhou, a resort city in east China, attracting 200 experts and scholars from 22 Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) members.

At the opening meeting, experts gave lectures on the social and economic valuation of urban forests in Finland, park and green space administration in Japan, biogenic emission of volatile organic compounds by urban forests in Italy, the investment experience of Britain in urban forestry, green infrastructure building in Kuala Lumpur City and urban forest monitoring in the Republic of Korea.

Planning, business operation and sustainable development of urban forestry will be discussed in following days.

"We are keen to strengthen cooperation in urban forestry with other ASEM members, including exchange of information and visits, sharing resources and joint research, to build up green cities," said Jiang Zehui, president of the Chinese Academy of Forestry, at the opening ceremony.

The symposium will close its session in Suzhou on Dec. 1. The rest of its sessions will be held from Dec. 2 to 3 in Beijing. 

(Xinhua News Agency November 30, 2004)