David Ferguson: I am sure that netizens will be astonished that so many nations fall into the category of "developing countries", and gratified that China is doing its part to enable their participation in the Expo.
Are you concerned some major countries, like – as has been well reported – the USA, may be struggling to meet their participation commitments. Are you worried about it? Can you give us an update on that situation?
Zhou Hanmin: As I said, up till today, hundreds of countries have confirmed their participation, that's equivalent to 96 percent of the total numbers of the United Nations.
The case of the United States is a very specific one, because almost twenty years ago, the US Congress passed a bill, not allowing the use of public finance to support participation in the World Expo. Of course I don't want to make any comment on this bill. But one thing I want to say as a reminder – the US is the country in the world that has had the most World expositions. The first expo the US sponsored and hosted was on the hundredth anniversary of the US revolution, that's in 1876. The latest one the US hosted was in the year of 1984. So in total over 108 years, the US has hosted 17 world expositions. So that's why the process for US participation is still going on.
They have a kind of liaison, I will say economic cooperation, working very hard for the possible funding for this very important national pavilion. And the good news is that the first strong supporter or sponsor they've got is 3M. I would say I feel more will come forward to fill the blanks in the budget.
For me, I have talked with my American friends, no matter in official or in non-official terms, I have said in a very clear way, the participation of the US is so important. Firstly to establish a new image under the new President Obama in a new term – image is so important. The US Congress has a very special budget for the bettering of the image of the US. I hope they could release a certain amount from that budget for the support of this pavilion. Second, it could be a very important gesture to further strengthen Sino-US relations, as well as to have a much better environment and image among all of Asia and the Pacific region, so that is my strong wish – that the problem for US participation could be solved as quickly as possible.
David Ferguson: Thank you, Professor Zhou, now if we could move on to some more controversial issues surrounding the Expo. The theme of the expo is "Better City, Better Life". Shanghai is already one of the wealthiest cities in Chinese mainland. Do you have any concern that the Expo is diverting attention or funds from more important geographic or economic priorities?
Zhou Hanmin: Firstly the Expo is a national responsibility. Shanghai has just been chosen as a venue. We are working on behalf of the whole nation. Secondly, all financial resources are local and have come from Shanghai government, from our endeavors to work out sponsors in terms of global strategic partners or project sponsors or senior sponsors. And also, we issued bonds for the construction. We don't think it will jeopardize any other efforts in any other areas – on the contrary, it could benefit the whole nation.
First, for the Yangtze Delta Area, only because we are having an exposition in Shanghai, and Shanghai is a part of that, so all cities in the region around are working enthusiastically and actively for the foundation of new infrastructure, for the construction of new resorts or hotels, for any other activities to boost tourism.
At national level, I will say the Shanghai World Expo could be the largest campus of learning, because all countries and international organizations are going to demonstrate their understanding of the theme in terms of cultural activities, and also in terms of cutting-edge technology, equipment and innovation.
I will say they will set up a very clear target for the whole country to work on and catch up. So I will say Shanghai World Expo could benefit all in the long term.
David Ferguson: Speaking as a media representative, before the Olympics, commitments were made to IOC and to the world's media in general, that the media would have freedom of access and reporting. During the Olympics, I don't think the international media were satisfied that the commitment was met. Can you provide some guarantee to the world media that before and during the Expo they will be allowed to report what they choose as they choose?
Zhou Hanmin: Before the opening of the Olympics, the State Council issued a very important document for reporting by overseas media, to pave the way for the reporting and facilitate the work. Just like I mentioned, not everyone is satisfied with the results. I can sense that because frankly speaking, nothing could be 100 percent satisfied. But on the other hand, we are taking the experience or certain lessons from Beijing Olympics, and practice in a very serious and sincere manner. The media center is now under construction in Shanghai Expo site, the largest one, 3,000 people can work together in the hall. It could be completed by the end of September this year. We welcome all media around the world to cover the stories of Shanghai World Expo. It is a long story.
I will take your reminder as a very strong indication that international media are interested in this big event. As the host, as the organizer, we need to do our utmost to go out of our way to facilitate your work. This is a promise.
David Ferguson: Thank you. Related to that question, clearly when you are putting together an event as big as the expo, there are always going to be some losers among what it is hoped will be many winners. Are you satisfied that people who have lost land or homes, or whose interests have been damaged in other ways, have been properly compensated and that their cases have been reasonably heard? Could you give us some comments on the way in which such cases have been managed in the preparation of the Expo?
Zhou Hanmin: Just now as I mentioned, the Expo site is in downtown area. If you were there 8 years ago, you couldn't bear to stay there for over one day. Why? It was so polluted by heavy industries, together with the largest shipyard of China, together with another 200 factories. The traffic was all the time in a jam, because of the backlash of the construction of infrastructure. The households were very shabby, even lacking a supply of clean water, let alone the sewerage system.
I could tell you a story. On the very date of March 12, 2002, an enquiry delegation sent by BIE, Bureau of International Expositions, came to Shanghai. They were going to see if the condition was ready. We couldn't move them into the site. We could only escort them to the top of a factory building, to let them know this is the site of Shanghai World Expo.
Why did we choose this site? The reason is very simple. If we don't have a big event like world expo, we have no driving force to have such a large-scale reconstruction. That's why we hope this area, the people of this area, the factories of this area could be moved onto nicer places. We constructed two huge developments for all those family households. One actually was designed for the community by a very famous Italian designer. I do welcome you certainly to visit those two developments. Talk to anyone you like – interview whomever you meet. Whatever interviews you carry out I am convinced that you will encounter largely the same response.
People are so satisfied with the results of this big reconstruction, removal and resettlement, because people do feel that's really something enjoyable about the (Expo) theme. Of course I will also say nothing could be perfect, maybe a few family households out of 18,000 people were not satisfied with the allocation of their new housing, for example they may find these homes farther from their places of work than they previously were. But the fact is that the overwhelming majority welcomes this removal and resettlement. That is a big point.
