WELLINGTON, Jan. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Wellington, New Zealand Capital, has beat Hong Kong to be the host city of a major international diabetes conference, The Dominion Post reported Saturday.

    The 7th Triennial Congress of the Western Pacific Region of theInternational Diabetes Federation (IDF) will bring up to 2,000 people from 30 countries to Wellington for five days in March, 2008.

    Russell Finnerty of Diabetes New Zealand said the conference would bring together leading experts in diabetes research from around the world.

    "In choosing Wellington over Hong Kong, the IDF has recognized not only the unique character of our city, but also the high levels of Type 2 diabetes among Maori and Pacific people and the excellent standard of the research being done in New Zealand," he said. Enditem