(July 28, '97)

Prior to the Fourth World Conference for Peace through Inter-City Solidarity, which supports the program to promote the solidarity of cities toward the establishment of world peace and total abolition of nuclear weapons (August 4 - August 9), the Chugoku Shimbun conducted a survey to the participating cities. The survey includes the questionnaires asking about the agenda for the conference.

Mayors from 44 cities in 22 overseas countries and a region replied to the survey, similarly expressed that "We hope that the conference will help us to create a peaceful 21st century." There seem to be great expectations for the conference.

The survey also includes questionnaires about summarizing the event of the 20th century, characterized as "the century of war", present situation about nuclear weapons such as the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), racial conflict, destruction of environment and peace education programs in each cities. The replies were asked to write in a descriptive form.

Messages attached with questionnaires said that "We hope that the world will be united with keen friendship through the conference" (Colombo City, Sri Lanka). Many messages were full of great expectations for the conference.

In addition to the central theme of the city's role for the abolition of nuclear weapons, more daily-life related issues such as starvation, poverty and racial conflict will also bediscussed.