Taipei City was able to produce a world-class flora expo from scratch in four years when it traditionally took others a decade, said Dr. Doeke Faber, head of the world's leading horticultural organization, adding that the emphasis on green technologies set the Taipei event apart from the others he had seen in the last 50 years. The Taipei International Flora Expositions emphasis on environmental conservation and green technology innovation has made the Taipei event truly unique, said Faber, president of the Netherlands-based International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), the body which decides where international floral expos are held. In an interview with the selfnews, he recalled that, when Taiwan applied with the AIPH in 2006 for the right to host this year's expo, it had to compete with many other cities. But the proposal submitted by Taipei City, he said, outshone its numerous competitors because of its emphasis on green technologies and its plan to inject new life into four parks that had been long ignored. When he visited the proposed site two years ago, he said, the four areas in Zhongshan District, where the six-month expo opened Saturday, were either dilapidated or unappealing to the public. Now, the parks are amazing and filled with many modern innovative designs and beautiful landscape. Everywhere you turn, each pavilion you go, there is one surprise after another. Taipei is now a big city of surprises,he said. Based on his past experiences, Faber said, it usually took approximately 10 years for a city to be fully ready to host an expo. Although Taiwan only had four years to plan and construct an expo from scratch, I have not been disappointed at all with what I have see so farhe said, adding that he hasabsolute confidencein the Taipei City governments capability to get the job done well. The creative idea of integrating a river, a football stadium, and the parks into one expo issomething that I have never seen before.' Faber stressed that for any AIPH-recognized flora expos, it is paramount the quality of the event lives up to the AIPH standard as to preserve the good reputation of the organization. The results (of the Taipei expo) have exceeded my expectations,' he said. The event in Taipei has set a new example for expos in the next 10 years, he added. In addition to the creative landscape layouts and garden designs of the expo, the organizing committees decision to make environmental conservation and green energy as its central message is laudable, he said. The planet is in peril, he said, and the human race can't afford to live in this planet if people fail to take urgent steps to take care the earthsnatural resources. And that is the message. It's what you find in this expo and that's why it is so outstanding,Faber said. I would be totally amiss if I would think in all my simple ideas that I could do any better than what I have seen here. They have done an excellent job and I am very proud of the city and of its people,he said. 