The Shanghai
World Expo in 2010 should serve as a stage for civilized
dialogue, in addition to being an exhibition of the latest
inventions and technology, said the organizer and experts at an
Expo forum held in Paris on Friday.
They agreed that cultural diversity is the most valuable source
of wealth of all human beings, and will be the foundation of a new
multilateral world order.
Wu Jianmin, president of the Bureau of International Expositions
(BIE) said that the world should not follow or adopt a single
strong culture, which is by no means democratic. Instead, to allow
all cultures to exist and flourish is what the world in the 21st
century truly needs.
"What World Expo can contribute to this new order is to enable
all people, countries and ethnicities to present themselves in the
same place, and to seek understanding and co-operation," he
said.
"Given the current international trend, the Shanghai World Expo
in 2010 will carry a significant meaning to the world," he said,
adding that it will be a perfect example of cultural diversity and
democracy as well.
His view was shared by more than 200 speakers and participants,
including BIE delegates, senior officials of various international
organizations, and researchers as well as the organizers.
"Cultural diversity is the primary condition for cultural
dialogue and it is a global challenge," said Paris Deputy Mayor
Christophe Girard.
His counterpart, Shanghai Vice-Mayor Zhou Yupeng, who is also
taking a key role in the Shanghai Expo preparation, told the forum
that the World Expo would create a large stage for all cultures to
meet, exchange and integrate.
"Culture is the soul of the city, and is also the pillar of
World Expo," Zhou said. Wu said as Shanghai World Expo had the
theme of "Better City, Better Life," all cultures will be able to
respond to the question - based on each civilization's nature - of
how to make the city a better place for human beings.
As for Shanghai itself, Zhou said the city will take the
opportunity of the Expo to invest more in the culture industry and
infrastructure, and promote culture development and integration,
thus to create a capacity to keep different cultures in
harmony.
Besides, all preparation for the Shanghai World Expo is
proceeding smoothly under the leadership of the organizing
committee, which is headed by Vice-Premier Wu Yi and Shanghai Party
Secretary Chen Liangyu. The organizing committee was established in
Beijing earlier this month.
The organizer is working intensively on the Expo program,
registration report, promotion and publicity campaign, and
financing strategy as well as the infrastructure and site plan.
Yu Ping, Chinese delegate to the BIE said with the full support
of the international community and the wisdom and staff from the
world's people, the Chinese Government is full of confidence that
World Expo 2010 Shanghai will be successful, wonderful and
memorable.
The one-day forum, with the theme of "City: Culture Diversity
and Culture Integration," was organized by BIE and the Shanghai
municipal government. It took place in the French capital, home to
BIE's headquarters.
The annual forum starting from last year is the first time that
a host country has generated ideas from all over the world. Next
September, a forum with a focus on sustainable development will
take place in Aichi, Japan at the end of Aichi World Expo.
The 2010 World Expo in Shanghai is expected to cost more than
US$3.6 billion, among which some US$1.2 billion will be spent on
the construction of more than 1.5 million square metres of
buildings and a World Expo village.
(China Daily June 26, 2004)