HANGZHOU, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The ninth World Leisure Congress with the theme "Leisure-integral to social, cultural and economic development" kicks off on Sunday evening in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province.

Derek Casey, Chair of World Leisure Board, said the meeting will focus on leisure policies, benefits of leisure and the effects of different cultures on leisure policies.

Feng Jun, director of Hangzhou World Leisure Expo office, said the congress provides a platform for domestic leisure circles to learn advanced leisure concepts and leisure industries development paths from overseas counterparts.

The congress, hosted by World Leisure Organization and Hangzhou leisure Expo committee, features 88 forums and will last till October 20.

World Leisure Congress is held once every two years since 1988 and its tenth congress will be held in Qubec City, Canada in 2008.Enditem