On December 17, a forum-entitled “The Glamour of the Ancient City: Cultural Construction Vs. Pingyao” , co-sponsored by the Publicity Department of CPC Shanxi committee and the People' s Government of Pingyao County-was held at Shanghai's Xintiandi, an area combining the traditional with the trendy. Shen Weichen, a standing committee member of CPC Shanxi committee and director general of the Publicity Department, Li Dingwu, chief of Pingyao County, some leading members of the organizing committee of the 2003 Pingyao International Photography Festival,as well as 40-or-so scholars and professionals from Shanghai's cultural, photography, press and industry sectors, attended the forum, discussing at length new ways as to how to develop cultural construction in Shanxi and Pingyao, in the new century,especially under the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents; exchanging views as to how to strengthen the communication and exchange between Shanghai and Shanxi; offering plans and strategies to develop Shanxi's economy, promote the cultural construction of Shanxi and Pingyao, and picture the future of the 2004 Pingyao International Photography Festival.