Monday 21 July 2008
Shanghai Daily
A8 SPECIAL
www.shanghaidaily.com
Fun and adventure in Australia Pavilion
Hu Min unshine, beaches, diverse culture, friendly people and one of the most livable countries in the world are the stereotypical features when people talk about Australia. In 2010, visitors to the World Expo Shanghai will get the chance to explore the real Australia after it signed a participation contract with Expo organizers early this month. The Australia Pavilion will take visitors on a journey that unveils some of the country’s natural beauty and unparalleled quality of life which demonstrate Australians’ ability to respond creatively and effectively to the challenges during urbanization. Its theme is “Mastering the Challenges: Australia’s Smart Solutions for Our Urban Future.” Australia also faces challenges similar to those confronting many other countries, including maintaining strong economic growth while preserving the environment. The pavilion, featuring sculptured curving walls and a red ochre exterior, will be a fun and relaxed place for people of all ages, says Peter Tesch, Australia’s commissioner-general for World Expo 2010. Divided into three distinct but inter-related sections labelled “Journey,” “Discover” and “Enjoy,” the pavilion will incorporate almost every aspect of Australian life. These include spectacular landscape, a strong and vibrant economy, rich culture, technological expertise and innovation, outstanding research and education, and more importantly, its commitment to sustainable development. The first part will take visitors on a journey where they will gradually leave behind them the bustle of the Expo site as they are drawn into a
Shanghai all the rage at Expo Zaragoza
Echo Hu taff responsible for promoting World Expo Shanghai 2010 at the ongoing Expo Zaragoza in Spain have been overwhelmed by visitors’ enthusiasm for the Shanghai event. They are being bombarded with questions ranging from the mascot Haibao to the weather in Shanghai during the six-month event, says Xu Bo, director of the international participants division of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination. Xu was one of the first Expo 2010 officials to visit Spain to learn from the experiences of Expo Zaragoza. “We have set up a counter at the China Pavilion, and five Expo officials and seven volunteers, who can speak Spanish, are handing out brochures about Shanghai Expo,” says Xu. He adds that many visitors have expressed a desire to visit Shanghai during Expo 2010. The China Pavilion themed “Humans and Water — Return to Harmony” is among the most popular pavilions at Expo Zaragoza with daily visitors averaging 20,000 to 30,000, Xu reveals. Xu says he and his colleagues were also busy consulting with representatives from participating countries and organizations to facilitate the early signing of participation contracts. The Slovak Republic has signed an official participation contract with organizers in Spain. The country will present an exhibition in Shanghai called “The World for Humanity” at a 1,000-square-meter pavilion. The three-month Expo Zaragoza will run through September 14. It is a specialized expo.
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Artistic rendition of Australia Pavilion
story depicting Australia’s history with interactive and sophisticated exhibits and pictures. They will be introduced to the multi-faceted population of Australia, beginning with the earliest inhabitants, the Aborigines, who arrived more than 50,000 years ago. Chinese visitors will discover that Chinese migrants have been playing a prominent role in the development of Australia since the early 1800s and today after English, Chinese is the second most commonly spoken language in Australia. Visitors can expect to learn more about the relationship between the open spaces of the Australian outback and the cosmopolitan urban hubs in the second section of the pavilion.
It will feature a 1,000-seat theater screening a multimedia show which reveal a society which, although characterized by rapid and deep penetration of new technology, still maintains a sustainable harmony between urban construction and natural environment via smart urban planning. The show will also display Australia’s innovation and achievements in renewable energy, transport, modern infrastructure and housing. The theater is expected to become the centerpiece of the whole exhibition, according to Tesch. With the theme “Enjoy,” the last section in the pavilion will provide visitors with a taste of some of Australia’s landscape from red deserts to the lush rainforests of the tropical north.
About 160 Australian staff in the pavilion will provide bilingual services for the convenience of Chinese visitors as 7 million visitors are expected during the 184-day event, most of whom will be Chinese. The Australian Government has allocated A$61 million (US$59 million) to fund the construction and exhibition of the pavilion and will seek another A$22 million from enterprises and state governments. “Australia is making this unprecedented investment in Shanghai Expo because of the strategic importance of the two countries’ bilateral relationship, and because of the increasingly close business, education, research, cultural and people-to-people links between China and Australia,” says Tesch.
Your Say
Message from Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who made the remarks in Chinese to mark the occasion of Australia’s signing of its participation contract at World Expo 2010 on July 3
Australia looking to strengthen ties with China
Namibia commits to Expo
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Australian PM Kevin Rudd
orld Expo 2010 Shanghai will be the largest in history and is a tremendous opportunity for Australia to further strengthen bilateral ties with China. The Australian Government is investing in a striking, attractive national pavilion in Shanghai — a pavilion with the capacity to welcome the 7 million visitors we expect over the six months of the Expo. Visitors to our pavilion will be able to experience and enjoy all aspects of Australian life through cutting-edge exhibits and performances by
contemporary Australian artists. Australia and China have a long history of friendship, exchange and people-to-people links. After English, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese) is now the most commonly spoken language in Australia. Existing ties between our countries are already very strong and the potential of the bilateral relationship is great. At a political level, Australia and China continue to build a strong partnership, based on close cooperation in diverse areas, including climate change. Economically, China is now
Australia’s largest trading partner and is a growing source of tourists, overseas students and inwards investment. Our objective at the Shanghai Expo is not only to showcase to China the many facts of Australia’s economy and culture. We also want to make a significant contribution to the Expo theme of “Better City, Better Life.” I am looking forward to the opportunity to take part in this historic event and would like to extend a warm invitation to our Chinese friends to visit the Australia Pavilion in 2010.
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he Republic of Namibia will present an exhibition themed “Experience Living Diversity” during World Expo Shanghai 2010 after the country signed a participation contract with organizers last Thursday. The country will showcase during the six months the tourism, culture, trade and lifestyles of its cities, including the capital, Windhoek. Namibia also plans to exhibit its achievements on scientific innovation and neighborhood renovations to echo Shanghai Expo theme. Namibia, in southwest Africa, covers 824,200 square kilometers and has a population of almost 2 million.
(Yang Jian)