2004 | The First City Photography Congress: Establishing the City Photography League

Within the longer development trajectory described in the record, 2004 is presented as a major milestone. At the first City Photography Congress—hosted by the municipal party committee and municipal government and co-organized with participation from 100 photography organizations worldwide—the “City Photography League” was established.

The record outlines early organizational arrangements and governance structure. It notes recommendations for leadership roles, including the appointment of a chair and an executive chair, and specifies that the headquarters would be located in Chengdu, China, while the secretariat would be located in Nanjing, China, with an identified secretary-general. It also lists early executive committee membership drawn from municipal photography associations across multiple cities, and notes a later adjustment from “unit-based” representation to “individual-based” representation in order to recognize individual contribution and capability.

Overall, the congress is presented as an institutional vehicle for multi-city cooperation and platform-based development, establishing an organizational framework intended to be sustainable and replicable.