The mayor hoped that Bengbu could take the expo and forum as a golden opportunity to build a bridge of friendship, open wider to the outside world, and join hands with friends and partners to build the city into a central area in the Huaihe River basin and the northern part of East China's Anhui province, where Bengbu is located.

Known in ancient times as the Pearl City for its abundant freshwater pearl fisheries, Bengbu enjoys rich historical and cultural resources as well as bright prospects for protection and development.

According to an old saying, "In Anhui province, you can know Ming and Qing dynasty culture by traveling to Huizhou, and know the culture before the Han Dynasty by traveling to Bengbu."

As early as 4,000 years ago, Da Yu, the water control hero from the Xia Dynasty (c.21st century-16th century BC), once convened a meeting in Bengbu and started the campaign to combat flooding by splitting the mountain to guide floodwaters into the Huaihe River in the west suburbs of Bengbu.