Slow food intl festival celebrates traditional lifestyles

Chengdu will host the seventh Slow Food International Congress Meeting this September, expecting to draw the public's attention to the sustainable food industry and to eating healthily.

Founded in 1989, Slow Food International Association is an international organization aiming to preserve local culinary culture and traditions, and to raise people's awareness of the qualities and origins of food in order to stop the rise of the fast-food lifestyle.

Involving millions of people from over 160 countries, the organization vows to help people to produce and consume good quality, clean and fair food in order to protect the environment.

Lorenzo Berlenghis, vice-president of the association, said it is the first time the festival, which takes place every four years, has chosen an Asian city for its venue, after careful evaluation.

Chinese philosophy says that food is the first essential of human life, and the same rule applies across the world, Berlenghis said.

"Slow Food International has always respected the endeavor Chengdu has made in preserving Chinese culinary culture and local ingredients," he said.

The vice-president said he is happy to see that Chengdu matches the association's philosophy concerning slow food. Berlenghis added he believes after the meeting is held here, more people will know Chinese local ingredients and understand how much China is doing to protect its traditional agriculture.

During the event, 600 delegates from over 90 countries and regions, including experts from global enterprises, as well as other leading figures and scholars, will bring their experience to Chengdu, holding mindful conversation and dialogues on slow food and to shed more light into how to push the industry forwards.

"Food is a vital part in economic innovation," said Yin Jianzai, deputy head of Chengdu Commission of Commerce. "We will spare no efort to help the Slow Food International Association to hold this event in Chengdu, and I believe the city will bring new perspectives to the slow food festival."

Yin said at the same time, the city will hold its food and travel festival to give guests a better understanding and experience of the local food and culture.

Despite its growing economy, Chengdu is a city with a relaxed pace of life, contrary to other metropolises where everyone walks faster to catch up with the urban life.

"I have been to Chengdu twice and I love it very much," said Huang Yongyue, vice-consul general of the Chinese Consulate General in Milan, Italy. "I remembered when I was there in 1990 and I sat in the teahouse with a pot for the whole afternoon. It was really nice."

Huang added that Chengdu has a perfect combination of fast development and a slow lifestyle, and he would love to come back to the city, walk down its streets and try its famous foods.

He also wished that Chengdu can play an important role in the Belt and Road Initiative, and lead western China to open up to the rest of the world.

renxiapojin@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 04/21/2017 page29)