Three landscape layouts were named top finalists for the Forest Park and the Central Zone at the Olympic Green from the seven designs proposed, a jury said Tuesday.

The selections came after a two-day expert appraisal, officials with the Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Planning said.

The three designs include layouts jointly created by the US Edaw Inc and China Architecture Design and Research Group, one by the US Sasaki Associates Inc together with the Beijing Tsinghua Urban Planning Design Academy, and one put forward by the Beijing Turen Landscape Planning Design Institute.

The final design will be decided by Beijing's municipal government after local residents vote, starting today through Friday at the Beijing International Convention Centre, said Li Xiaojiang, jury president.

Li did not reveal the date for when a final design decision will be announced.

Covering an area of some 700 hectares, the Forest Park will be built into a green belt for Beijing residents' entertainment and recreation, as well as for improving the city's environment, said Yao Ying, vice-director of the urban planning commission, one of the organizers for the landscaping appraisal.

The 160-hectare Central Zone focuses on areas on the two sides of the Central Axis running through the Olympic Green.

A total of 51 designs were submitted by applicants from a dozen countries and regions, including the United States, Australia, Britain and Japan, sources said.

In another development, the Turin 2006 - Beijing 2008 Forum was held yesterday in Beijing.

Turin, the capital city of Italy's Piemonte Province, which will host the 2006 Winter Olympics, and Beijing, the host city of 2008 Summer Olympics, are seeking more co-operation opportunities for the Olympic preparations.

The Italian side said they are trying to seek business opportunities among Beijing's bid-winning groups. They are hopeful negotiations might begin with such organizations as Beijing State-owned Assets Management Company, the proprietor of the National Stadium and National Swimming Centre, and Beijing Urban Construction Group Company, the proprietor of National Gymnasium and Olympic Village, officials said.

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