China Enters the “Expo Period”

2009/05/15

On May 1, 2009, when the countdown clock for the World Expo 2010 Shanghai was set into motion in front of the China National Museum in Beijing, there were 365 days left to the expo’s opening ceremony. Thus, the “Expo Period” began.

Looking back on December 3, 2002, when China won the right to host the World Expo, respect for China from around the world, once again, became evident. For Shanghai, the expo amounts to a precious opportunity for the development of the city.

With six years’ preparation, Shanghai has brought a new face to the city, improving its environment, enhancing services and by making its transportation system more complete and easier to use.

As the first Third-World country to host such an event, Expo 2010 also generated more “firsts”: it is the first World Expo to take cities and urban living as its theme; the 5.28 square kilometre Expo site is the largest in history; and 70 million visitors are expected.

As of May 4, 2009, 237 countries and international organizations had confirmed their participation in the expo, 20 of which have no formal diplomatic relationships with China.

With great anticipation to May 1, 2009, China will stage an excellent “Expo story” with the rest of the world in the 184-day event.

Under the theme of “Better City, Better Life,” countries from around the world will demonstrate their achievements and plans for improving urban civilization; they will also exchanges experience and convey advanced ideals related to urban development.

It will be a collective showcase of the fruit of humanity’s material and spiritual civilization, which will enhance the growth of contemporary science and technology, art and architecture.

Innovation is a core concept of this expo. Cities will be the focus in the “Urban Best Practices Area,” while the expo will be available to an almost infinite number of people around the world via “Expo Shanghai Online.”

Volunteers will be guided by their slogan: “Thousands of volunteers will fill the city with more smiles, trust and understanding.”

More than 20,000 performances and activities will be staged, allowing diverse cultures to meet and merge.

China is confident in asserting that World Expo 2010 Shanghai will serve as a showcase of the essence of human civilization by assembling the fruits of each nation and casting light on the common hopes of people around the world.

中国，走入“世博时间”

2009年5月1日，当上海世界博览会（以下简称世博会）的倒计时钟在中国国家博物馆前启动时，此时距离中国2010年上海世博会开幕还有整整365天的时间。中国，也由此走入了“世博时间”。

站在时间的坐标上，回望2002年12月3日，当中国在申办2010年上海世博会的竞争中脱颖而出获得主办权时，中国迎来了一个特殊的时刻，因为她又一次听到了世界肯定的声音；而上海这座中国经济最发达的城市也再次迎来了无比珍贵的发展机遇。

站在时间的坐标上，在2009年5月上海世博会迎来倒计时一周年之际，经过6年的精心筹备，上海以一幅全新而生动的面貌出现在世界面前。

作为有史以来首次在发展中国家举行的综合类盛会，上海世博会首次以“城市”为主题，规划建设了面积达5.28平方公里的世博园区，预计将有7000万人次的海内外观众参与……随着上海世博园内的中国馆封顶、演艺中心封顶、主题馆封顶、世博中心封顶、园区试运行……中国政府对上海世博会的承诺也在逐一实现。

截至2009年5月4日，累计已经有237个国家和国际组织确认参展中国2010年上海世界博览会，其中20个是尚未与中国建交的国家。中国的国际影响力和上海世博会的吸引力，在这里共同构成了强烈的世博磁场。

站在时间的坐标上，前瞻2010年5月1日，在历时184天的世博时间里，中国将与世界共同演绎一段精彩的“世博故事”——在这里，世界各国将以“城市，让生活更美好”为主题，展示城市文明成果、交流城市发展经验、传播先进城市理念；在这里，人类物质文明和精神文明成果将汇聚展现，引领科技、艺术、建筑在这个时代的最新发展；在这里，创新成为不变的灵魂。“城市最佳实践区”将把“城市”作为展示主体引入世博会；“网上世博会”将实现世博的“永不落幕”；在这里，无数志愿者在“世界在你眼前，我们在你身边”的口号下，将为城市注入更多的微笑，为人与人之间增添更多的互信和理解；在这里，2万余场文化演艺娱乐活动相继登台亮相，载歌载舞的人们汇成欢乐的海洋，世界各地的文化得以自然交汇和融合……

中国，有理由充满信心地告诉全世界：2010年上海世博会将汇聚世界文明的精华，凝聚五湖四海的力量，点燃人类共同的希望之光——为了“更美的城市、更好的生活、更深的情谊”。



	Article featured in Business Beijing, May 2009 Publication sponsored by Information Office of the Beijing Municipal Government, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce, Development & Reform Commission of Beijing Municipality, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (Beijing Sub-Council)