Expo.com: The Application for Registration of Expo 2010 Shanghai has attracted extensive attention from all over the world, after its approval on December 1st, 2005 by the 138th representative members’ convention of the Bureau of International Exhibitions. The Application is the legal document on the complete implementation program of Expo 2010 Shanghai China, and also serves as the fundamental outline for the Expo preparation. Therefore, the whole preparation procedure of the Expo will be the active process on the basis of the Application. We here publish the abstracts of the Application for Registration on the official website of Expo 2010, in order to make it more convenient for all sorts of people home and abroad to understand the Application comprehensively. The followings are the “Application for Registration of Expo 2010 Shanghai (Abstract I)- Preamble”.

World Expositions are galleries of human inspirations and thoughts. Since 1851 when the Great Exhibition of Industries of All Nations was held in London, the World Expositions have attained increasing prominence as grand events for economic, scientific, technological and cultural exchanges, serving as an important platform for displaying historical experience, exchanging innovative ideas, demonstrating esprit de corps and looking to the future.

With a long civilization, China favors international exchange and loves world peace. China owes its successful bid for the World Exposition in 2010 to the support for and confidence of the international community in its reform and opening up. The Exposition will be the first registered World Exposition to be held in a developing country, which gives expression to the expectations the world’s people place on China’s future development.

So what will Expo 2010 Shanghai China deliver to the world? There is no doubt that the Chinese people will present to the world a successful, splendid and unforgettable exposition.

Expo 2010 Shanghai China will be a great event to explore the full potentials of urban life in the 21st century and a significant period in urban evolution. It is expected that 55 percent of the world population will be living in cities by the year 2010. The prospect of the future urban life, a subject of global interest, concerns all nations, developed or less developed, and their peoples. Being the first World Exposition on the theme of city, the Exposition 2010 will attract governments and peoples across the world who, focusing on the theme “Better City, Better Life” during its 184 days’ run, will display to the full extent the urban civilization, exchange their experience of urban development, disseminate advanced notions on cities and explore new approaches to human habitat, life style and working conditions in the new century and learn how to create an eco-friendly society and maintain the sustainable development of human beings.

Expo 2010 Shanghai China will be centered on innovation and interaction. Innovation is the soul while cultural interaction is an important mission of the World Expositions. In the new era, Expo 2010 Shanghai China will contribute to human-centered development, scientific and technological innovation, cultural diversity, win-win cooperation for a better future, thus composing a melody with the key notes of highlighting innovation and interaction in the new century.

Expo 2010 Shanghai China will also be a grand international gathering. On the one hand, we shall endeavor to attract about 200 nations and international organizations to take part in the exhibition as well as 70 million visitors from home and abroad, ensuring the widest possible participation in the history of the World Expositions. On the other hand, we will put Expo 2010 Shanghai China in a global perspective and do our best to encourage the participation and gain the understanding and support of various countries and peoples, in order to turn Expo 2010 Shanghai China into a happy reunion of peoples from all over the world.

In addition, Expo 2010 Shanghai China will offer a wonderful opportunity for cross-culture dialogues. Before the conclusion of the Exposition, “Shanghai Declaration” will be issued. This declaration, hopefully a milestone in the history of the World Expositions, will epitomize the insights to be offered by the participants and embody people’s ideas for future cooperation and development and extensive common aspirations, thereby leaving a rich spiritual legacy of urban development to the people throughout the world.

The Chinese Government will go to great lengths to make Expo 2010 Shanghai China a special event that carries on traditions and opens a new vista into the future. “Keeping in mind the next 60 years’ development while preparing for the 6 months’ exposition”—that is our motto. We count on the continuing attention, support and participation of all the peace-loving countries.