World Expo forum held in Shanghai

The First World Expo Forum for Development and International Cooperation was held in Shanghai on Dec 13 and 14, gathering international experts to discuss and analyze the influences of world Expos.

"The forum is vital and meaningful for world Expos, recalling, renewing and expanding the ideas and practices in the former events to create forward momentum," said Vicente G. Loscertales, Secretary General of Bureau International des Expositions.

During the forum, experts reinforced the role of Expos as powerful catalysts that can boost the development of culture, economy, international cooperation, as well as urbanization and design.

"An Expo is a unique urban stage that combines all these aspects. For example, through large-scale investments in infrastructure, the creation of new urban areas, regional development, and social and economic impacts of the Expos are seen and felt by all citizens, before, during and after the event," said Loscertales.

"For architecture and construction, Expos also provide a blank canvas and an open laboratory for pushing boundaries and fostering creativity, encouraging bold decisions and creative independence for architects and designers to experiment with new forms, shapes and styles," he said.

Gao Yan, chairwoman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said China has always been supporting and participating in World Expos, and will continue to do so to demonstrate the country's vision of building a global community.

Xu Kunlin, vice mayor of Shanghai, said the values of World Expos, including education, cooperation and innovation, has had a big impact on the city after the World Expo 2010.

"The 2010 Expo is a milestone in the city's development path and has always been leading Shanghai in moving toward the direction of a global city of excellence," said Xu.

The World Expo, as a global event for showcasing innovation, encouraging collaboration and celebrating human ingenuity, has been held once every five years since 1851. Each Expo lasts for six months.

The next Expo will be held on the Dubai South site measuring 4.38 square kilometers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from October 2020 to April 2021.

According to Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, executive director of the Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau, the major infrastructure for the event will be completed by the end of the year.

The bureau has already received pledges from 190 countries to be part of the Expo, surpassing the UAE's target of 180 countries at the time of bidding.

The forum, Al-Ali said, is a great opportunity for UAE to share the ideas for the world Expo and deliver messages to friends in China.

"We signed the Chinese pavilion earlier in May, and it will be one of the largest pavilions in the Expo. Dubai has been major destination for many Chinese tourists. With the Expo, we expect to have more visitors from China," he said.

"It is the first time in the history of world Expos that the Chinese New Year will be celebrated during the World Expo. The winter in Dubai is of a comfortable temperature that all our visitors can enjoy."

He pointed out that the Expo site may be reopened after the event to function as a new District 2020 which would house commercial and residential complexes.