Preparations for the 2010 World Expo is progressing smoothly
despite the challenges that range from daunting relocation jobs to
refining people's manners, Shanghai Party chief Xi Jinping has said.
In an interview with China Daily on the eve of the
1,000-day countdown to the expo, Xi said the six-month event in
Shanghai will not only showcase state-of-the-art achievements from
across the globe, but also accelerate China's growth.
"To host the expo is a tremendous test - just think of
accommodating the 70 million-odd visitors to the six-month fair in
the heart of such a densely populated city."
Citing a Chinese adage, he said: "If you fail to prepare, you
prepare to fail."
Shanghai is studying the experiences of former expo host cities
and taking steps toward making the 2010 expo a successful "world
gala".
"So far the preparatory jobs are moving along efficiently, with
the resettlement of residents completed, infrastructure
construction accelerated and the expo themes for presentation
specified," Xi said. Also, the relocation of factories is nearing
completion.
Construction of the planned 5.28-square-km expo park has led to
the largest relocation project in Shanghai that involves about
18,000 households and 272 factories, including the 142-year-old
Jiangnan Shipyard, the cradle of China's modern industry.
The participating countries will get their land lots in November
where they can start building their pavilions for the expo that
will open on May 1 and continue till October 31, 2010, Xi said.
Opinion polls conducted among relocated families have been
positive, he said. Residents have been given new houses that are
twice as big as their old ones, with the much improved neighborhood
environment coming as a bonus.
The focus of the next 1,000 days will be on inviting
participating countries and organizations, building the expo park
and presenting themes, Xi said.
Apart from constructing hundreds of miles of new highways and
subways that will turn Shanghai into one of the world's most
sophisticated transport hubs, the city is also focusing on
educating its residents on proper manners.
Since last year, the municipal government has sponsored several
programs encouraging millions of local people to learn English, to
acquaint themselves with the Internet and refine their manners.
"I believe that by 2010, Shanghai will have a more amiable face
and warmer arms to welcome guests from everywhere."
The benefits arising out of the expo will be shared by the
entire country, Xi said.
"Although the expo's venue is one city, it needs the entire
country's effort (to host it). Likewise, we feel the rare
opportunities that the expo has thrown up should be shared by
different areas of the country."
Xi and senior Shanghai government officials visited the
neighboring Jiangsu and Zhejing provinces last week to discuss
regional cooperation in organizing the expo and sharing business
opportunities.
"Shanghai is making all out efforts to make the world expo a
platform to serve the entire country and allow the provinces and
other municipalities to share its development opportunities and
achievements."
The expo will showcase the participants' economic and social
strengths and cultural and scientific achievements, Xi said.
(China Daily August 6, 2007)