Section 4 Preparation for Hosting the 22nd UPU Congress

The Chinese government attaches great importance to the congress. The preparation for the UPU Congress started soon after the 21st Congress was over. With the approval of the State Council, China Organization Committee was set up in July, 1996. President Jiang Zemin is the Honorable Chairman, Vice Premier Wu Bangguo is the Chairman, and Minister Wu Jichuan of Posts and Telecommunications (now the Minister of Information Industry) is the standing Vice Chairman. Vice Secretary General of the State Council and the senior leaders from more than twenty ministerial Organizations: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Culture and Beijing Municipality Government are the vice chairmen of the Organization Committee. Top officials of various government departments or organizations compose the members of the Committee. President Jiang Zemin wrote the inscription for the Congress, which beads: "Develop the Modern Post to Meet the Social Need."

On July 11, 1996, Chairman of China Organizing Committee, Vice Premier Wu Bangguo chaired the first meeting of the China Organizing Committee of the 22nd UPU Congress as well as the meeting of the Organizing Committee for the 1999 Philatelic Exhibition (The two Organizing Committees for the two events are actually the same one, but with two different names). The meeting studied the relevant issues in connection with the host of the UPU Congress and the preparation for the Philatelic Exhibition in China in 1999. A Minutes of the Meeting stated the nature, tasks and the significance of the 22nd UPU Congress, elaborated the effect it will cast on China and China Post, and explained the position and requirements of the Chinese government to hosting the Congress. The Minutes of the Meeting Pointed out:

--The UPU Congress is the supreme body of the Union, which consists of representatives of member countries. The main functions of the Congress are to decide on the postal affairs among different countries through consultation, formulated and amended Acts of the Union, to study and work out the world postal development strategy and elect the councilor countries of the Administrative Council and the Postal Operations Council, as well as the Director-General and Deputy Director-General of the international Bureau of the UPU.

--The UPU Congress is an international activity of high level, big scale and long duration. 189 countries and regions will take part in such a Congress. According to the traditional practice, in concurrence with the UPU Congress, the host country should hold a comprehensive World Philatelic Exhibition, which is of the highest level and biggest size in the world. It is an important event for the international culture exchange.

--As the last UPU Congress in this century, it will fulfill the role of guiding the trend of the world postal industry in the next century. According to the regulations, as the host country, China should hold the chairmanship of the Congress, and should take charge of the work of the UPU Administrative Council for the following five years in the capacity of the Chairman of the Administrative Council. This is good for China to have a further play in the UPU affairs and to promote the development of the postal industry in the world.

--The Congress and the World Philatelic Exhibition are the two big events taking place in China at the end of the century. Coincidentally, 1999 is New China's 50th anniversary, successful organizing of this Congress will be of great significance for China to show New China's achievements, especially those made since the implementation of reform Program and the policy of opening up to the outside world. It is also of great importance for promoting the growth of the postal industry in our country and strengthening its exchanges with foreign countries.

--The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (the present Ministry of Information Industry since March, 1998) will, as the organizer of the UPU Congress and the World Philatelic Exhibition, cooperate with other related departments to make good Preparation and do organization work for the venous activities, implement our diplomatic policies, fulfill the necessary international commitments and Protect the national interests. In practice, we should strengthen the leadership and make meticulous organization work to ensure the smooth progress of all the work and the success of the UPU Congress and the World Philatelic Exhibition. In order to put the preparation into practice and ensure the smooth and on-time opening of the Congress, under the direct leadership of the Organizing Committee and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (Ministry of Information industry, the China Organizing Committee for the 22nd UPU Congress and its Secretariat were established. Since 1997, the Secretariat has been further enhanced in terms of its organizational structure, its leadership and the staff force. Preparation has been progressing on a large scale.

1.The "Agreement Concerning the Organization of the 22nd Universal Postal Union Congress" has been signed. After the discussion and amendment made by relevant member organizations and the China Organizing Committee, the Draft Agreement of the Organization of the Congress was approved by the State Council on March 31, 1997. Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Wu Jichuan was authorized by the State Council to sign the document with the UPU. On June 9, 1997, the Agreement was formally signed by Minister Wu Jichuan and the representative of the UPU, Mr Leavey, the Director-General of the international Bureau. The Agreement further clarified the responsibilities and commitment of both parties. It is the commitment made by the Chinese government to all the member countries of the UPU to the successful hosting of the Congress, and it is the basis for the preparation for the Congress in China.

2. "Program on the Preparatory Work for the 22nd UPU Congress" has been established. It makes specific regulations on the guideline, organization and leadership, working organs, foreign cooperation and exchange, meeting room and technical facilities, supporting and services, safety, transportation, airport pick-up and sending-off, life, medical treatment and insurance, and the Congress budget and financial management. Based on the Program, implementation plans have been worked out with specific requirements and target schedule. More than several hundred items of preparatory work are overed by detailed schemes that are operational in practice. In one word, the Preparatory work is treated the same way as a system project which is conducted through scientific management so as to ensure that all the preparation should be progressing in good order and be implemented to the point without mistakes.

3. The logo of the Congress has been finalized. After wide solicitation and consultation, the draft was approved in January, 1997, by the Organizing Committee and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. The logo is composed of a stylized image of a beacon tower on China's Great Wall, beacon flames and the French inscription "22e CONGRES UPU-BEIJING 1999". The pattern of the Great Wall incorporates the envelope, and the beacon-fire forms the "22e" in French. The simple and graceful design reflects the long history of communications in China. It also shows that the 22nd UPU Congress is held in such a country as China, a land with a long history and brilliant civilization. The red and green colors are used to express the wish of the Congress: "Peace and Progress", and the confidence for the success of the Congress.

4. A set of supporting and insurance system for the facilities and service work of the UPU Congress has been completed. The opening and closing ceremony of the Congress will be held in the Great Hall of the People. The main hall is located in Be1Jing international Convention Center in Asian Games Village. A complete computer system, sensitive communications system and advanced electronics voting system will be installed. Offices, hotel accommodations and food supply of high service quality at various levels will be provided. Excursions for the representatives to visit Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou as well as the postal facilities, P&T schools and universities, P&T enterprises and counter service points will be organized during the Congress. These trips will provide a chance for the representatives to appreciate the ancient civilization, modern development and the beautiful scenery of China.

5. Social Publicity work for the Congress has been carried out with full efforts. Special articles over 40,000 words have been composed, reflecting China's economic growth and local customs. They will appear on the UPU magazine on three issues in 1999. A TV Special "Approaching China" has been shown in the UPU, and won good repercussions. Since 1995, we have introduced the significance and the history of the UPU Congress on the World Post Day each year. During the preparation period, TV specialties and advertisement of social welfare nature reflecting the postal history in China, introducing the scenery of Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou as well as the development of the postal services will be shot. Calligraphy and painting solicitations and junior letter competition will be organized. A celebration ceremony for the 125 anniversary of the UPU will be held during the Congress.

6. In order to extend the influence of the Congress and leave a prolonged impression of the Congress in China, China Post has, by the normal practice and the privilege granted to the host country by the UPU concerning the issue of stamps with the theme of the Congress, issued two sheetlets named "Mountain Huangshan" and "The Undersea World", two pieces of stamps featuring the logo of the Congress and two miniature sheets of relevant theme. Some postage post cards will also be issued tO enrich the treasure of the philatelists from China and abroad.

7. To develop active exchanges with foreign partners and facilitate the preparation with common force. The preparation has been under the care and support from the international postal circle, especially from the international Bureau of the UPU and the former host countries. In recent years, the Director-General, Deputy Director-General and the officials of the international Bureau, the congress doyen, the Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service, The State Councilor for posts and telecommunications of Germany, Vice Minister of Information Communications of Korea and the postal delegations from various countries have visited China to keep close touch and exchange their experience with us. By promoting the foreign exchange, especially by introducing the preparation between the meeting time of the Council of Administration and the Postal Operations Council, we have made the member countries of the UPU understand our work. The international Bureau highly appreciates what the Chinese government has done for the preparatory work.

8.To strengthen the training of staff. Knowing that the high quality staff is the key element for the success of the Congress, the Secretariat has organized the training of the job skills, and the training of the abilities of organization and coordination. Exchanges and cooperation with foreign colleagues have been conducted in a broad way. In addition to the study of the preparation with the UPU. the exchanges with the countries that have the experience of hosting the UPU Congress have also been undertaken. Much experience has been obtained in this way. Countries such as the United States, Britain, France and Korea have offered the training courses for quite a number of the Chinese staff each year. For the purpose of summarizing, reviewing and enhancing the congress preparations, the Second Session of China Organizing Committee was held on August 27, 1999. At the meeting, progress reports on the congress Preparations and World Stamp Exhibition Preparations were made before Vice Premier Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the organizing Committee, gave important directives. He stressed that unremitting efforts should be made in the following aspects:

1. Ensure excellent overall direction, control and management of congress work.

2. Take vigorous measures to ensure best services and thoughtful arrangement for all activities.

3. Guarantee perfect security by all means without any fail under any circumstances.

4. Improve political and professional qualifications of all the staff-members working for the Congress and the Exhibition, and upgrade working efficiency and ability to cope with any emergency and unexpected change of circumstances.

5. Strengthen cooperation and keep close touch with the international Bureau of UPU. All member departments of the Organizing Committee should made joint efforts to perform their duties well. The two Secretariats for the Congress and Exhibition Preparations and their staff are called upon to make .borough planning, careful organization, proper arrangements and always give full consideration to their work, to ensure smooth convening and complete success of the Beijing UPU Congress.