Speech By Mr. Yang Xiong, Member of the Organizing Committee of the Expo 2010 Shanghai China, Executive Deputy Director of the Executive Committee of the Expo 2010 Shanghai China, Vice-mayor of Shanghai

(April 24, 2006)

Ladies and gentlemen:

Good morning!

To hold a successful, splendid and unforgettable World Expo is a solemn commitment of Chinese government to international society. It is also an important target for Shanghai, as the organizer, to achieve in the coming five years. Since December 3, 2002, when China was granted the honor to host the Expo 2010, Shanghai has joined hands with pertinent State departments to make full preparation for the coming event under the leadership of our Central Government and, in particular, the Organizing Committee of the Expo 2010 Shanghai China, headed by Vice Premier Wu Yi.

On December 1, 2005, The Application for Registration of Expo 2010 Shanghai China was approved on the 138th General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). This indicated that preparations of the grand event has come out with expected results and will enter a new phase of full execution.

Preparations for the Expo Shanghai, the first of its kind organized in a developing country, have received guidance and assistance from BIE, aroused close concern from various circles of international society, and got warm support from our friends from the media. I would like to take this opportunity, firstly, to express our heartfelt thanks to our friends from the media.

Since March 22 this year when our Letter of Invitation to the Expo 2010, signed by our Premier Wen Jiabao, were officially sent out, the international community has responded with great enthusiasm. I would like to avail myself of the opportunity of this press conference to announce officially to you that by yesterday, we already received confirmation from the following countries and international organizations to take part in the Expo 2010: France, Ukraine, Bahrain, Mali, Cambodia, Canada, Mauritania, Algeria, Congo, Hungary, Switzerland, New Zealand, Cuba, and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.This is the first time for us to disclose the countries and international organizations that have confirmed their intention to participate in the Expo 2010.

Apart from the countries and international organizations mentioned above, many other countries and international organizations have contacted us one after another. Some have already appointed their Commission General who would hold discussions with the organizer of the Expo beforehand, so as to get a clear understanding about their participation at the earliest date possible.

To my understanding, the following factors may explain the great enthusiasm of the international society and the people at home and abroad over the Expo 2010:

First of all, the Expo has a theme of global concern.

In our present-day time when cities develop at a fast speed, urban life, already of great density, has been exposed to a series of challenges such as conflicts of space, frictions of culture, shortage of resources, and pollution of environments. In developing countries where cities develop at an extremely fast pace, in particular, people cannot but submit themselves to the annoyance of degradation of living quality due to pollution, crowding and disorderliness when they move and melt into cities they yearn for. For this reason, mankind is more eager to get into the core of urban issues now than ever.

The theme of the Expo 2010 Shanghai China is “Better City, Better Life,” with five sub-themes: blending of diverse cultures of the city, economic prosperity in the city, Innovation of science and technology in the city, remodeling of communities in the city, interaction between cities and villages. The theme and the sub-themes are all designed to look for ways to perfect the functions of cities that serve as the carrier and mechanism of human life and build a healthy and harmonious relationship between cities and rural areas and nature. This is precisely an issue of common concern around the globe. For this reason, all countries in the world are willing to participate in the Expo 2010 to conduct dialogue about the course of development of cities in the world and the challenges lying ahead and initiate cooperation in this field by starting from the point where history and future meet so that they can share with each other their own experiences and lessons and join hands to create a better urban life for the future.

Since last year, we have tried to study in depth and refine the theme of the Expo Shanghai and its extended connotation by soliciting contributions from home and abroad, setting up teams of chief theme developers, and installing an evaluation committee composed of renowned Chinese and foreign experts. Pooling wisdom from various sides and circles and centralizing the cream of Chinese and Western cultures, we are now focusing our efforts on the masterminding of the overall programs for the presentation of the China Pavilion and the Theme Pavilion. At the same time, we are working on the plan on an “urban experimental zone”. We have invited cities with typical features in different parts of the world to join our exploration for and presentation of the development of cities and the life of their residents in the future.

Secondly, we have a plan of unique characteristics.

First of all, we will hold the Exposition in the central area of Shanghai. Unlike most other expositions held in the past, the Expo 2010 will be held in the central area of the municipality with well-developed transportation facilities, complete and perfect service facilities, and very convenient access to exhibitors and visitors. The selected site of the Expo is noted for the value of its landscape, boasts a rich content of history and culture, and can best embody the theme of the Exposition, reflect the connotation of future urban life more thoroughly, and promote reservation of history, renovation of old blocks, transformation of functions, improvement of environments, and achievement of sustainable development in this area.

Secondly, the Exposition will be held on both sides of the Huangpu River. The Huangpu River, the mother river of Shanghai, has a long history and is known far and wide. To locate the pavilions and gardens of the Expo 2010 along the two sides of the Huangpu River is a unique arrangement. During the Exposition, we will organize a series of activities on the Huangpu River, to give full play of water scenery, and to help visitors get a full taste of its charm.

Thirdly, we will provide sufficient presentation spaces to all exhibitors. The Expo 2010 is planned to be held on an area of 5.28 square kilometers, including a 3.28-square kilometer area of enclosed area, the biggest of its kind ever. Defining the layout principle of “One primary with more supplements”, we preliminarily formed the 5-level layout of “”Park, Enclosed Area, Zone, Group and Cluster”, each with characteristics of its own. They will provide sufficient space to display exhibitions and performances of various countries..

Forthly, we have planned to make best use of ‘color languages.’ We will use the carefully designed ‘Color of the Expo’ to link all the buildings, landscapes, spaces, activities, information, and cultures, and command the overall space image of all the park. Our planners have also carefully designed a series of charming and eye-catching works to grant visitors a rare treat.

Fifthly, we have carefully planned a transportation system in and out of the Park, and will comprehensively use various transportation forms, in order to urarantee easy and convenient visits.

In addition, we have made every effort to highlight the application of modern science and technology to the planning, construction and operation of the Exposition so as to imbue it with a scientific and technological content and give it a rich ecological tint.

We have started construction of all the basic municipal facilities for the Exposition, including the tunnel crossing the Huangpu River, the track transportation system, and road network. We will soon start bidding for the designing of various buildings and structures in the Park. Architects from all parts of the world are warmly welcomed to take part in the bidding.

Thirdly, we have a meaningful emblem.

With green, a color symbolizing life and vitality, as its dominating color, and a visible feel of moving forward and rising up, the emblem we has designed for Expo 2010 symbolizes openness, innovativeness, passion, and harmony. It is a demonstration of the determination of our people to look into the future, strive for the best, and attain the development goal of building a harmonious society through peaceful development.

The drawing of three people joining their arms in the emblem looks like a happy and joyful three-member family. It may also be understood, in abstract generalization, as mankind which is composed of “you, he or she and me.” It suggests ‘understanding, communication, happy get-together and cooperation,’ the philosophy of World Expositions. The emblem embodies not only the spirit of advocacy of harmony and unity characterizing our Chinese nation, but also the concept of ‘people first’ that serves as the basis of the Exposition 2010 in Shanghai.

The drawing, simulating the Chinese character ‘世’(means “world”), is an expression of the earnest wish of our Chinese people to turn the Expo into a grand event that integrates the whole world and all cultures. In calligraphic terms, ‘世’-shaped drawing and the Chinese character ‘京’ in the emblem of the Beijing Olympiad in 2008 enhance each other. Together, they reveal the firm determination of our Chinese people to carry forward their traditional culture and integrate with the international community with enthusiasm and on their own initiative.

Forthlyk we have worked out a feasible marketing plan for the event. Execution of this marketing plan will provide multiple channels and plenty of opportunities for enterprises of different business types, scales and ownerships to take part in the preparation for the Expo 2010, including brand sponsoring, symbol licensing, organizing of activities and projects, and rendering of commercial services in the park.

We plan to enroll 10 to 15 partners and 12 to 20 senior sponsors for the Expo. Partners will be the highest-ranked sponsors among brand sponsors. Apart from providing support in cash and kind, partners will help prepare the whole trade or sector they represent for the event.

The Organizer will ensure that each sponsor get sufficient rights and benefits commensurate with its sponsorship investment. All sponsors can enjoy returns from exclusive use of name and logo, exclusive commercial rights, priority in event sponsorship, ticket discount, and Expo 2010 on-site reception as well as services provided by the Organizer. We have also won approval from the Central Government to provide certain preferential tax treatment to the sponsors of the Expo.

On March 14 of this year, the Expo Airplane of the China Eastern Airline, the first partner of the Expo 2010 Shanghai China, started its maiden flight.

Our marketing efforts have been warmly received by famous enterprises from home and abroad so far. We are also making in-depth contacts with famous enterprises in the telecommunications, finance, insurance, petrochemical, automobile and other trades and sectors. We hope even more Chinese and foreign enterprises will grasp the opportunity to take an active part in the event.

Friends, we have already started recruitment of international participants in the Expo 2010 Shanghai China. Preparations for the event have been under busy way and are proceeding in good order. It is our sincere hope that more countries and international organizations will come to the Expo and join hands with us to turn it into a grand gathering showcasing their achievements in economy, science and technology, and social and cultural development and a platform for the people of all countries in the world to summarize history, to communicate and cooperate, and to seek future development.,

Finally, thank you once more, our friends from the media, for you attention and support to the World Expo 2010 Shanghai China.