In order to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), to display its brilliant achievements in the unique way of philatelic culture, and to promote cultural exchanges and international cooperation in the postal and philatelic fields, China 2019 World Stamp Exhibition will be held in Wuhan, Hubei, from June 11 to June 17. The theme of the exhibition is "promoting mutual prosperity, facilitating peace and mutual trust, mutual learning of cultures and mutual assistance in ecological conservation". Up to now, 87 countries and regions have registered for the exhibition with 4700 frames of exhibits, including 2500 frames of international exhibits and 2200 domestic ones. On May 14, the press conference of China 2019 World Stamp Exhibition was held in the press room of the State Council Information Office. Dai Yingjun, Deputy Director of the State Post Bureau, Kang Ning, Vice President of China Post Group, and Liu Ziqing, Vice Mayor of Wuhan, attended the conference and answered questions from reporters.

According to Dai Yingjun, this World Stamp Exhibition is a large international philatelic cultural exchange event held by China in the new era. It is also a gift presented by the philatelic circle to the 70th anniversary of the PRC founding. The exhibition is sponsored by the State Post Bureau, and is hosted by the Wuhan Municipal People's Government, China Post Group, the All-China Philatelic Federation and the Department of Transportation of Hubei Province. In order to highlight the great achievements that have been made in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics since the founding of the PRC 70 years ago, especially since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the exhibition will display more than 1000 frames of non-competitive exhibits. First of all, more than 1,300 sets of stamps (over 4,000 pieces) issued since the founding of the PRC will make their debut. Secondly, the theme exhibits of "celebrating the 70th anniversary of the PRC founding" will be on a concentrated display. Thirdly, a new family letter category will be added to the exhibition, reflecting the Chinese cultural characteristics and human care. Fourthly, a special exhibition area will be allocated for the works of the disabled for the first time.

Dai Yingjun pointed out that the exhibition has been strongly supported by International Philatelic Federation (FIP), and also warmly received by the international philatelic community and domestic philatelists. Famous philatelists and museums from home and abroad will bring dozens of frames of rare stamps to the exhibition. During the exhibition, more than 80 international philatelic experts will evaluate the entries, and representatives from over 20 UPU member organizations will come to China for visits and exchanges. It is expected that this exhibition will be the largest, most distinctive and most splendid among the exhibitions of the international philatelic community.

In response to a question from a China Radio International (CRI) reporter of the China Media Group (CMG), Kang Ning said that the stamp exhibition on the 70th anniversary of the PRC founding, which will be included in this exhibition, bears great significance. It will unfold a historical picture, imply the original aspiration, and present the beautiful prospect of the new era. There will be three focal points. The first is the gathering of all the stamps issued during the 70 years of PRC. These stamps have appeared sporadically in all previous national, and international stamp exhibitions, the debut of their "Family Portrait" will surely cause a sensation in the whole country and thrill the whole exhibition. The second is the unity of the stamps showing the 56 ethnic groups in China. In 1999, China Post issued a set of commemorative stamps entitled "the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China—Great Unity of All Ethnic Groups", which has been displayed in the " Exhibition Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of China’s Reform and Opening-up" in the National Museum, and has aroused widespread attention. This time, the 56 original drafts of these stamps will gather together at this exhibition site, and interact with the visitors through multimedia technology. The third one is the rally of rare stamps. In this exhibition, China Post will also exhibit rare stamps and unique ones, including the earliest stamp drafts stored in the China National Postage Stamp Museum, like the "Sketchbook of R.A. de Villard" and postage stamps of the "Post Office of Soviet Republic of China", etc. The quantity and quality of the rare stamps to be exhibited are expected to register a new record.

In response to questions from the reporter of China News Service (CNS), Kang Ning pointed out that the World Stamp Exhibition to be hosted in China this time means much to China Post. China Post regards it as a glorious mission, great responsibility, and an opportunity for its development. It will help enhance the charm of philately, polish the brand of China Post and expand its development space.

According to reports, the World Stamp Exhibition is an international cultural exchange event managed by FIP and promoted globally. It is known as the "Olympic Games" of the Philatelic community, aiming at promoting the exchange, cooperation and development of international philatelic culture. FIP currently has 97 member organizations. China joined it in 1983. With the approval of the State Council, China hosted the World Stamp Exhibitions in Beijing and Luoyang respectively in 1999 and 2009, the 50th and 60th anniversaries of the founding of New China, and achieved great success.

Compared with the previous two World Stamp Exhibitions held in China, this one will be larger in scale, higher in level and distinctive in non-competitive exhibits. Besides, the form of the stamp exhibition will be more innovative, and the theme day activities more abundant. For the first time, the category of picture postcards will be added to the exhibition. In the non-competition exhibition, Chinese family letters and "Stamp Collection Makes Life Better" philatelic photographic works will also be added, thereby further expanding the categories of the exhibits and meeting the needs of picture postcard collectors and family letter collectors. From June 11 to June 17, each day has a special theme, they are respectively named as the Opening day, the 7th CISM Military World Games day, the Jingchu Culture day, the Philatelic Association Members’ day, the "Belt and Road" International Exchange day, the Youth Stamp Collecting day and the Closing day. Moreover, with the enhancement of China's comprehensive economic strength, the size of the exhibition area, the support and service of the exhibition will also be much improved.

Wuhan is closely connected with philatelic culture. Up to now, China has issued more than 30 sets of stamps with Wuhan elements. Such architectures of Wuhan as the Huanghe Tower (Yellow Crane Tower), Wuhan University, Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge, Tianxingzhou Yangtze River Bridge, Yingwuzhou Yangtze River Bridge, and the Guanggu Future Science and Technology City have all appeared on stamps. According to Liu Ziqing, entrusting the exhibition to Wuhan shows the government's trust in Wuhan. It will not only be a comprehensive test of Wuhan's exhibition level, carrying capacity and environmental quality, but also an important opportunity to show the image of Wuhan as a modern, international and ecological city, which will strongly promote the high-quality development of Wuhan.