A series of high-level diplomatic events scheduled to be held in Shanghai will inevitably affect citizens and businesses in the metropolis. At a press conference held Sunday by the Organizing Committee of the 60th Session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Vice Mayor Jiang Sixian expressed in advance his deep appreciation to the people for their understanding and cooperation.

The eight-day ESCAP session will begin on Thursday, April 22. The 800-member guest list includes UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, three heads of state, eleven former foreign statesmen, and more than 30 ministerial-level officials from around the world.

Another group of foreign statesmen will arrive in May for the Shanghai Conference on Scaling Up Poverty Reduction sponsored by the World Bank.

The Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office reports that more than 20 foreign state leaders are scheduled to visit Shanghai from April to May. The accompanying pomp and ceremony, as well as security precautions, are expected to interfere to some extent with normal life, particularly for commuters.

Jiang noted that hospitable Shanghai citizens understand the situation and work together with the municipal government to contribute to the success of such international conferences. The vice mayor thanked them on behalf of the municipal government.

To reduce inconvenience to citizens, the city has arranged for most conference events to be held in the Pudong area. The advanced traffic management systems in Pudong are expected to help minimize congestion on the roads.

(China.org.cn by Xu Zhiquan, April 20, 2004)