The organizers of the Shanghai World Expo are working to allay
participants' concerns about construction, financial assistance and
services ahead of the 2010 event.
"Since the first meeting for the Expo in 2006, preparations have
been moving ahead smoothly under the watchful eye of the
government," Hua Junduo, the event's commissioner general, told a
participants' meeting yesterday.
Nearly 400 Expo officials and company representatives from home
and abroad were briefed on topics such as theme development, the
construction of pavilions, communications and promotions and market
development.
To date, 180 countries and international organizations have said
they will participate in the 184-day event, which kicks off on May
1, 2010.
In response to questions from participants about efforts to
clean up former industrial areas that will be used for the Expo and
the process for handing over plots, Vice-Mayor Yang Xiong said the
government has "basically completed soil remediation at some
polluted lots at the Expo site and will provide geological survey
reports to each participant".
The organizer will meet with representatives of developing
countries to help them choose themes for their pavilions.
They also launched a website yesterday provide information.
Other concerns raised by participants include:
The Maglev train: No decisions have been made about whether the
city's Maglev line will be extended to the Expo site, but Chen
Xianjin, deputy director-general of the Bureau of Shanghai World
Expo Coordination, said the organizers are working vigorously to
promote the issue.
Disabled visitors: A special pavilion for disabled people will
be constructed. Services for the physically disabled have been
included in the Expo plans.
Visitor flows: With a record 70 million visitors expected to
attend the event, organizers have come up with detailed plans about
how to handle the flow of people to ensure the shortest possible
wait times.
A reservation system will be put in place, and participants will
be encouraged to use it.
"The information provided at the meeting was helpful," Isaac Dos
Anjos, general commissioner of Expo Angola, said.
(China Daily November 16, 2007)