EXPO Express

In Brief

Denmark’s Little Mermaid resurfaces to music and fanfare in Shanghai, with a replacement video installation by artist Ai Weiwei underway for Copenhagen

Sarkozy plans pre-Expo meetings in Beijing and with Shanghai’s French community

Ordinary Chinese-Americans get involved through “The Chinese in America” wall

With Expo Online also set to launch on May 1^st, the organizer reveals part will be in 3-D

Participants

Sarkozy to Visit Beijing, Meet with SH-based French

4/26/10 – Of the 21 state and government leaders who are scheduled to attend the Expo’s opening ceremony on April 30^th, French President Nicolas Sarkozy will be the only one to fly to Beijing and meet with several top Chinese officials, China’s Ambassador to France Kong Quan said. Beijing and Paris attach great importance to Sarkozy’s three-day state visit to China starting April 28, and talks will focus on developing “long term” and “comprehensive” bilateral ties, the top Chinese diplomat was quoted as saying by China News Service in Paris. “This arrangement shows that both countries think highly and expect much from the visit,” the top envoy said. Along with his wife Carla Bruni, the French president will kick off the visit from Xi’an, the capital of China’s Northwest Shaanxi province. Sarkozy will also hold a private meeting for the French community in Shanghai on Friday afternoon; the invitation saw such a high response that restrictions had to be made on attendance to ensure venue space.

[China Daily, French Consulate]

Fujitsu Supports Japan Pavilion
4/26/10 – Fujitsu today announced that it will be supporting the Japan Pavilion, nicknamed “Purple Silkworm Island.” Fujitsu’s support will include developing an add-on entertainment website, “Meng Gui Suo Meng: A place that inspires dreams is itself the stuff that dreams are made of,” that will go live during the Expo, to help increase awareness of the Japan Pavilion and foster friendship between Japan and China.

[ACN Newswire]

Chinese-American Photo Wall Underway

4/26/10 – Ordinary Chinese living in the Bay Area, USA, are getting involved in the Expo by being photographed for a wall exhibition called “The Chinese in America,” in the USA Pavilion. “That’s a lot of exposure for people who were just going about their routine when they came within the long outreach arm of Mabel Teng, executive director of the Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco,” writes Sam Whiting of The San Francisco Chronicle. “The idea is to show that America is a diverse country and that Chinese are part of the diversity and the strength,” says Teng. “We want to have every strata represented in the digital wall.” The virtual picture montage, which will rotate 10,000 images, is fundamentally an Internet project, in which people of Chinese heritage can submit digital pictures of themselves and upload them onto www.jointhewall.org. To extend the reach, Teng opened a portrait studio in the Chinese Culture Center for walk-ins. “They take this really, really seriously,” says Teng, who has seen men bring their wedding suits to the Center. Teng has also sent outreach teams into 23 gathering places in Chinese strongholds on both sides of the bay and down the Peninsula. “It’s a people’s wall, and the people want to be part of it,” Teng said, translating for a fellow representative.

[Sam Whiting / The San Francisco Chronicle]

A Look at the First Israel Pavilion

4/26/10 – This is the first time that Israel has built a national pavilion at the Expo, allocating $6 million for its participation. The Israel Pavilion consists of three areas including the Whispering Garden, Hall of Light and Hall of Innovations. The green orchard, known as the Whispering Garden, is displayed for visitors entering the building. When walking by, visitors will hear the trees whispering in both English and Chinese. Within the pavilion, the Hall of Light will display on a 15 meter high screen, with films highlighting Israel’s innovations and technological achievements. The Hall of Innovations is the centerpiece of the pavilion, where visitors can talk and share their hopes for a better future with Israeli children, scientists, doctors and inventors through hundreds of screens.

[Shanghai Daily]

Liverpudlian Arts to Show, May-June

4/26/10 – From May 1^st to June 19^th, an exhibition of Liverpudlian Arts will be showcased at the Expo. At the Bluecoat Display Centre, the work of British artists will be displayed including both ceramics and jewelry. One featured artist is Li-Sheng Cheng, who, inspired by her Chinese upbringing, creates functional silverware and jewelry, ranging from textured rings, earrings and bangles. The work of Ken Eastman will also be on display, including original manuscripts from the Derby ceramics factory archives.

[Liverpool Daily]

Lee Myung-bak to Hold Summit, Visit Expo

4/25/10 – South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will visit Shanghai on Friday to hold a summit with Chinese President Hu Jintao and attend the Expo, Cheong Wa Dae said Saturday. Lee is expected to discuss with Hu ways to enhance the strategic partnership between Korea and China and exchange views on pending regional issues, according to the presidential office. On Friday evening, Lee will attend a welcome dinner and the opening ceremony of the World Expo. On Saturday, he will visit the Korean and Chinese pavilions, and return home after meeting with South Korean residents of Shanghai in the afternoon.

[Kim So-hyun / The Korea Herald]

Denmark’s Little Mermaid Arrives

4/25/10 – Denmark’s Little Mermaid sculpture resurfaced to music and fanfare Sunday at the Expo park, a month after leaving her perch in Copenhagen harbor for the first time ever. The statue is considered a national treasure in Denmark and has been a major tourist attraction since 1913. “She has since then sat quietly on her rock on Copenhagen Harbour in Copenhagen until today,” Christopher Bo Bramsen, the commissioner general of Denmark’s Expo pavilion said at the unveiling ceremony. “From today, the stature of the Little Mermaid will be the centre of the Danish Pavilion at Expo 2010.” “Millions of tourists will be mesmerized by her beauty,” said Shanghai deputy mayor Tu Guangshao at the unveiling. Mike Lippert, the pavilion’s creative director, said, “We wanted to do something really extraordinary”. The move has made the Danish pavilion one of the Expo’s most talked-about attractions in China, where every schoolchild reads Andersen’s stories. A temporary video installation by Ai Weiwei, one of China’s most famous artists and an outspoken social critic, will be unveiled in Copenhagen in May, at the mermaid’s former perch. It will project live images of the mermaid and her visitors at the Expo.

[Daily News Egypt]

Philippines Pavilion Exhibit Unveiled

4/23/10 – The Philippines Pavilion unveiled its exhibition plan on Friday. With its rhombus and wedge patterns, traditional tattoos, labor tools and jewelry, the Pavilion is positioned to embody the culture of its country. Upon entering, visitors will experience unique local performances as well as displays of tourist destinations on a large screen. The exterior is decorated with eye-catching collages and transparent materials in the shape of diamonds, featuring patterns of pottery and traditional textile products. Inside, various customs and art performances including, vocal music, folk, rock, solo and street-style performances will be showcased.

[en.expo2010.cn]

UK Pavilion Welcomes Heroes from Sichuan at Soft Opening

4/21/10 – Last Tuesday, the first day of the Expo’s soft opening, the UK pavilion hosted a delegation from Sichuan Province, made up of “heros” of the Sichuan earthquake in 2008. The delegation included officials, military personnel, and medical personnel – all of whom had played a key role in dealing with the aftermath of the Wenchuan earthquake in the devastated area of Sichuan. Following their visit, the director of the Sichuan Pavilion, Mr. Yi Yang, commented, “We were given a very warm reception at the UK pavilion; and were all impressed by what we saw, and the kindness of the staff who looked after us on our visit.” Carma Elliot, the British Consul-General, commented, “It was a pleasure to host the heroes of Sichuan in our pavilion. We look forward to working with our friends in the Sichuan pavilion over the six months of Expo to explore increased co-operation and projects.”

[ukshanghaiexpo.com]

General Info

Expo Online to be in 3-D

4/26/10 – Expo Online will launch on May 1^st, and it was reported that the organizer has decided to offer parts of it in 3-D. “The 3-D website is unprecedented in the World Expo history,” said Wang Liping, who is in charge of the 3-D Shanghai World Expo website program. Around 500 staff have been working around the clock for the website’s official opening May 1, he told Xinhua news agency. The proposed website www.expo.cn will consist of several parts, including “site tour”, “interactive community” and “future city”. Clicking the “site tour”, more than 150 3-D pavilions will be shown on the map. Users can click any pavilions they like, then mascot “Haibao” will bring them to the chosen pavilion and give a brief introduction about the display. There’s also an interactive community area for online visitors to share their experience of the virtual trips. “The 3-D pavilions are expected to stay online even after the conclusion of the expo,” said Wang.

[smetimes.tradeindia.com, Xinhua]

Residents to Perform Urban Harmony

4/26/10 – Throughout the Expo period, residents from the 18 districts of Shanghai will take turns performing programs with local characteristics at Citizen’s Square. These programs organized by the Shanghai Bureau of World Expo Coordination include dances, songs and local games showcasing Shanghai’s culture and traditions. The performances are intended to reflect one of the Expo’s themes: harmony in urban communities.

[en.expo2010.cn]

Bridges and Roads to be Closed

4/24/10 – On April 27, for the World Expo opening rehearsal and on April 30, for the opening ceremony, LuPu Bridge and several roads in Shanghai will be closed. From April 30 to May 1, several roads near the Expo site will be closed including, NanPu Bridge, Yan’An Road East Tunnel, Yan’An Elevated Road, Inner Ring Elevated Road, South-North Elevated Road and LuBan Road Interchange.

[en.expo2010.cn]

Biz Offering

Shanghai Airports: First Step to Expo 2010

We are pleased to inform you that Hill & Knowlton has recently formed a strategic alliance with JCDecaux Shanghai airports media, and is now launching a “First Step to Expo 2010” offering. With the forecasted 70 million visitors to the Expo, there will be a significant increase of daily flights bringing an unprecedented number of visitors to Shanghai during the six-month period. As the No. 1 touch point for Expo visitors and tourists, Shanghai’s airports are a solid platform to boost your brand exposure, stage promotional events, and make a first impression on consumers in China.

Please get in touch if you are interested in knowing how H&K can help you best leverage this special opportunity. Simply email Claudia Sun at claudia.sun@hillandknowlton.com.cn to receive the offering.

In Brief

New Zealand launches its interactive Website, giving visitors a chance to get involved

Formula One’s Lewis Hamilton says the UK Pavilion will showcase a young and fashionable image

The Sesame Street gang is poised to hit the Expo stage with BASF Kids’ Lab in the “Magic Map Show”

The 2010 World Expo Business Series kicks off, for multinationals interested expanding their presence in China beyond the Expo

Participants

New Zealand Launches Expo Website

4/17/10 – The New Zealand Pavilion launched its official Website (www.newzealandexpo2010.com) Friday, inviting visitors to participate in interactive games. The Website presents New Zealand’s natural landscapes, Kiwi hospitality and innovations. To increase interactivity, it invites famous visitors, including Chinese media personality Hong Huang, Kevin Tsai and Yuan Yue, to share their favorite parts of New Zealand. The Website is also a platform for visitors to share their impressions and pictures of New Zealand, and offers a brief quiz, in which participants have a chance to win New Zealand gifts. At the “Cool Downloads” section, people can download New Zealand wallpaper and ringtones. The site is well equipped with sharing functions, enabling people to leave comments at the site or go to New Zealand Pavilion’s zones on popular Chinese Websites, such as renren.com or douban.com, to discuss the pavilion and contribute ideas. The Website also has a virtual tour function for people to explore the New Zealand Pavilion online.

[en.expo2010.cn]

Hamilton Speaks at UK Pavilion

4/16/10 – Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton from the McLaren team on Friday said the UK Pavilion would showcase a “young and fashionable” image of the country through the innovative “Seed Cathedral,” as he said the biggest features of British cities were their green approach and innovation. During his visit to the UK Pavilion, he said it was a misunderstanding to view the nation as an outmoded and conservative country, and that the pavilion – with its centerpiece “Seed Cathedral”, pierced by more than 60,000 acrylic rods that contain seeds from an array of plants – would help change such stereotypes. Hamilton was in Shanghai for Sunday’s F1 Grand Prix race.

[Hu Min / en.expo2010.cn]

Canada Focuses on Creativity

4/16/10 – Canadian entertainment company, Cirque du Soleil, described as a dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment, will be ever-present at the Expo, writes leisure wire Relax News. Cirque designed the creative concept for the Canada Pavilion, created the public presentation, produced the cultural program and developed strategic corporate alliances under the theme “The Living City: Inclusive, Sustainable, Creative” – and they have hired more than 150 artists to perform in and around the site for the duration of the event. In addition, there will be 45 short films screened in the Canada Pavilion representing the established and rising generation of filmmakers in Canada. With these offerings, the Pavilion is expecting a total of five million visitors, at an average of 30,000 per day.

[Relax News]

Malaysia to Highlight Tourism

4/16/10 – Tourism Malaysia chairman Dr. Victor Wee Eng Lye said Wednesday that he thinks Malaysia’s commitment to the Expo is a reflection of the importance placed on its relationship with China. He said the Expo would also provide a unique platform to further strengthen tourist traffic between China and Malaysia, and that the 3,000 square meter pavilion represents the country’s way of life and culture in order to promote tourism in Malaysia.

[Asia Pulse]

Thai-China Free Trade Prospects Strong

4/16/10 – The Thai government is stepping up its campaign to make the best use of free trade agreements and the Expo, to increase shipments to China. The government this year plans to team up with leading department stores and importers from China, including City Shop, Carrefour, Lotus Supercenter, Isetan, Metro and Wal-Mart, to stage marketing and sales activities here. According to Mrs. Srirat Rastapana, the Export Promotion Department’s director-general, plans are also afoot to develop distribution channels for Thai gems and jewelry products and a logistic network, and to promote Thai products and services through local media in Shanghai and leading centers. The department has also partnered with the private sector to showcase Thai services and products at the Expo, placing a particular focus on food and beverages; design, fashion and lifestyle; decoration and furniture. The ministry will also promote matchmaking between Thai and Chinese businesses on the sidelines of the event to raise values of trade and investment. Srirat said the event should help raise the value of Thai exports by 10-15% from $16.12 billion in 2009.

[Phusadee Arunmas / Bangkok Post]

Disney Joins USA Pavilion

4/15/10 – USA Pavilion organizers announced Wednesday that The Walt Disney Company in China has joined as a sponsor of the USA Pavilion. U.S. Commissioner General José H. Villarreal said he and fellow organizers were honored to have Disney’s support for the USA Pavilion in China: “Disney has a unique connection with kids and families all over the world and sends a message of imagination, hope and success to all.” With the theme “Rising to the Challenge,” the USA Pavilion will showcase American culture, values, innovation and business, while celebrating the friendship and cooperation between the U.S. and China.

[Hu Min / en.expo2010.cn]

Sponsors

Motorola Shows TD-LTE Readiness at Expo Site with China Mobile

4/16/10 – Motorola Inc.’s Networks business announced Friday that it had showcased an end-to-end TD-LTE demonstration via the world’s first TD-LTE USB dongle at the Expo site, to support the “TD-LTE Showcase Network Opening Ceremony” hosted in Shanghai on April 15. Delegates at the ceremony experienced applications that run over a TD-LTE network via USB dongles, including high-definition video wall (simultaneous 24 video streams), remote monitoring and high-speed Internet browsing applications. “We are very excited to support China Mobile in bringing the world’s first TD-LTE USB dongle demonstration enabled by our TD-LTE system,” said Dr. Mohammad Akhtar, corporate vice president and general manager, Motorola Networks business in Asia Pacific.

[PR Newswire]

General Info

Expo to See 15 Orchestral Performances in May

4/20/10 – May is Expo concert month at the Oriental Art Center and 15 concerts by famous orchestras will be staged. The first expo concert at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center on May 1 will be performed by the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by British maestro and early music expert Roger Norrington. “Our concerts and recordings give you the opportunity to hear how a modern symphony orchestra can reconnect with its roots and embrace the traditions of the past,” said Norrington. To celebrate the Expo opening, they will perform Haydn’s “Symphony No. 1,” Prokofiev’s “Piano Concerto No 3,” Rihm’s “Verwandlung 3″ and Elgar’s “Enigma Variations.” Young American pianist Claire Huangci will perform in the concert that begins at 10am. In the evening, the Philharmonia Orchestra from London will make its Shanghai debut under the baton of Vladimir Ashkenazy. Other performances for May include: the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Swiss Charles Dutoit, with Argentinean pianist Martha Argerich; the BBC Symphony Orchestra led by Czech conductor Jiri Belohlovek; and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of its new conductor Daniel Harding from England. The Oriental Art Center, a major Expo performance venue, will hold almost 100 concerts during the six-month Expo through the end of October. Tickets are 15-200 yuan; the art center can be phoned at (21) 6854-1234.

[Nie Xin / Shanghai Daily]

Sesame Street and BASF Kids Join for Expo

4/19/10 – Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster and the rest of the Sesame Street gang, along with BASF Kids’ Lab, are taking to the Expo stage for an interactive educational program, “Magic Map Show.” Brought on by Sesame Workshop (the producers behind Sesame Street) and BASF Kids’ Lab, the live show takes children on a world journey and includes a hands-on experiment called “Recycling of Dirty Water” on how to produce clean water. To kick off the Expo appearances, the Sesame Street Muppets visited Luwan Youth Activity Center in Shanghai to give kids a sneak peek at the fun and games that will be offered twice daily beginning May 1 when “Magic Map Show” opens at Dock Theater at the Expo Garden in Pu Xi. “Big Bird first came to China in 1983 and when he heard about the World Expo in Shanghai, he couldn’t wait to come back to see some old friends, many of whom have their own children today, and to make some new friends like Haibao,” said Maura Regan, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sesame Workshop’s Global Consumer Products.

[PRNewswire]

Hotel Discounts Offered

4/16/10 – Hotels such as JW Marriott Hotel at Tomorrow Square in Shanghai are offering discounted packaged deals encouraging a visit to the Expo. JW Marriot’s packaged deal includes a 15% discount, complimentary breakfast and a single day admission ticket with a daily Expo shuttle bus. The Hotel is also the exclusive hotel partner for the UK Pavilion and will host events including Afternoon Tea at the Pavilion, to emphasize the strong relationship between the Hotel and Pavilion.

[China Economic Review]

Direct Cross-Strait Flight Plans May Soon Take Flight

4/16/10 – Direct charter flights may go between Songshan Airport in Taipei and Shanghai Hongqiao Airport during the expo period, starting in May at the earliest, in order to transport expected large numbers of Taiwanese visitors to the event. The arrangement was raised by Fan Liqing, spokesperson of Taiwan Affairs Office, State Council, on Wednesday. Others are in favor, and according to the “supplementary agreement for cross-Taiwan Strait aviation link,” signed in Nanjing last April, direct charter flights can be arranged via consultation between the civil-aviation regulators of both sides. The Expo’s inauguration is expected to increase the strained capacity for direct flights between Taipei and Shanghai, which is the busiest cross-Strait air route.

[Philip Liu / Taiwan Economic News]

East China Coal Imports Soar in 1st Quarter, to Continue with Expo

4/16/10 – Imports of coal to China’s eastern provinces increased sharply in the January-March period from a year earlier, with the trend set to continue during the Expo, the China News Service reported Friday. Inbound shipments of coal through the Jiangsu port totaled 4.14 million metric tons between January and March, almost six times more than the year-earlier period, the news service said on its Website, citing customs data. The Expo will make the Yangtze River Delta region a hot travel spot this year, which will further boost coal demand, it said.

[chinanews.com, Dow Jones]

Expo Business Series Kicks Off

4/15/10 – The 2010 World Expo Business Series had its first executive speech in Shanghai on Wednesday. Speaker James Rogers, Chief Executive Officer of the world-leading Eastman Chemical Company, talked about the experience of his company, which earned 10 percent of its total annual revenue from the Chinese market. The company made clear its ambition at the salon to expand its Chinese business by more than a quarter a year in the next few years. Rogers said the Expo would play a key role in the company’s long-term development strategy. The Series was initiated by David Turchetti, Vice President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (AmCham), who took the upcoming Expo as a likely catalyst for overseas companies aiming to expand their presence in China. Other heavyweight multinationals – including General Electric Company, J.P. Morgan and 3M – are expected to have their executives follow suit, in pitching their commitments to the Chinese market, Expo and beyond.

[Xinhua]

Biz Offering

Shanghai Airports: First Step to Expo 2010

We are pleased to inform you that Hill & Knowlton has recently formed a strategic alliance with JCDecaux Shanghai airports media, and is now launching a “First Step to Expo 2010” offering. With the forecasted 70 million visitors to the Expo, there will be a significant increase of daily flights bringing an unprecedented number of visitors to Shanghai during the six-month period. As the No. 1 touch point for Expo visitors and tourists, Shanghai’s airports are a solid platform to boost your brand exposure, stage promotional events, and make a first impression on consumers in China.

Please get in touch if you are interested in knowing how H&K can help you best leverage this special opportunity. Simply email Claudia Sun at claudia.sun@hillandknowlton.com.cn to receive the offering.

In Brief

Shenzhen installs the largest-ever Mona Lisa

Director Zhang Yimou captures Beijing’s sights and sounds

China’s Snow Dragon arrives with plans to open its Arctic doors for the Expo

Shanghai’s ‘golden line’ is finally open

.

Participants

Shenzhen to Show Massive Mona Lisa

4/12/10 – The largest-ever re-creation of the Mona Lisa was installed on the exterior wall of the Shenzhen Pavilion on Sunday, Beijing News reported. The 300-square-meter oil painting took 999 painters four hours each, according to Meng Yan, a worker in the Shenzhen Pavilion. The painting is composed of hundreds of 30×20-centimeter pieces, with each painter’s signature in the bottom right corner. All the painters work in Dafen Cun Oil Painting Village, a famous village in Longgang District, Shenzhen, which produces copies of all kinds of art. Inside the pavilion are hand-made copies of the world’s most famous artworks, highlighting the flourishing oil painting industry as well as rapid development of the village in recent years.

[Qin Mei / China Radio International]

Zhang Yimou Shoots Film for Beijing Pavilion

4/2/10 – Zhang Yimou – the internationally acclaimed Chinese filmmaker, former cinematographer and one of the best know Fifth Generation Chinese film directors – has recently finished filming a five minute movie to be played at the Beijing Pavilion. The film narrates the story of a foreign tourist’s one-day visit to Beijing. Four of Beijing’s iconic buildings including the Temple of Heaven, the Water Cube, the Bird’s Nest and the National Grand Theater will be displayed on a light-emitting diodes panels. The film will also highlight many different sounds that a typical traveler would hear in the city, including Beijing accents and Peking Opera.

[Tom Qian / en.Expo2010.cn]

Sponsors

FamilyMart and Lawson Appointed

4/12/10 – The Expo Coordination Bureau has signed retail service agreements with two convenience store providers: Taiwanese FamilyMart, and Lawson, an investment of a mainland Chinese state-owned enterprise. According to reports from the Central News Agency of Taiwan, the bureau has signed contracts with 48 retailers and two convenience store service providers. The Expo site will have eight convenience stores — four stores under each of the two brands — in its public areas, focusing on the sales of fast food, drinks and daily commodities to meet the immediate needs of visitors. Both FamilyMart and Lawson have undertaken to provide products at the same prices they charge everywhere else. It’s predicted that retail sales during the Expo period will reach CNY2.1 billion, with a per capita consumption of 30 RMB.

[China Retail News]

Moutai to Extend Network to France

4/12/10 – To expand China’s leading moutai producer’s efforts in internationalization, Kweichow Moutai will establish a marketing network in France, the firm’s chairman Yuan Renguo said. He explained that just as the company currently has a marketing network in each Chinese province, there will be specialized personnel to manage and offer services for the local distributors in overseas markets (currently, there are only distributers). The liquor producer plans to expand the domestic market through the upcoming Expo, during which Kweichow Moutai will launch more than 80 new packaging designs, created according to the pavilions of different countries, he said. Sales of Kweichow Moutai is estimated to grow 8-10 percent during the Shanghai Expo.

[Global Times]

Chisen Electric to be Sponsor, Provide Eco-Friendly Battery

4/11/10 – Chisen Electric Corporation, a leading lead-acid motive battery producer for the electric bicycle market in the People’s Republic of China, announced today that it is very honored to participate as an alternative power source sponsor at the Expo, and to provide an eco-friendly solution to power the road signage at selected Expo Park locations. Mr. Xu Kecheng, Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Company, stated, “As a leading provider of eco-friendly, reliable lead-acid motive battery products for non-polluting, electric-powered bicycles, we are very pleased to have been given the great opportunity to be a sponsor of this prestigious event focused this year on improving life in the world’s urban environments.”

[PR- USA.net]

General Info

600K Cap on Daily Visitor Intake

4/12/10 – Expo organizers are putting a 600,000-a-day limit on visitors for safety reasons, local officials said over the weekend. The measure, announced less than a month before the Expo starts, indicates the pressures the city may face during the event that could see one of the largest visitor turnouts in history. Zhou Huai, head of the Expo traffic management department, said that traffic outside and inside the site will be “safe, convenient and in order.” Outside the Expo site, the city has reserved policies to cut the use of private and official cars on certain days according to their license plate numbers to ease possible traffic snarls, according to a traffic organization plan released in January.

[Zha Minjie / Shanghai Daily]

Expo Transport System to be Largest Ever

4/12/10 – Expo organizers will launch a comprehensive public transport network combining subway, bus and marine services to provide convenient access to the 3.28 square kilometer park for nearly 70 million visitors. Officials described the scale of the operation as unprecedented for a World Expo. “The transport network, including one subway line, five bus lines and 12 water traffic lines, is the largest ever,” said Zhou Huai, deputy director of the Urban Transport Management Bureau in a press conference Saturday. The transport system, set to open May 1, will give access to 95 percent of the expo park with no more than 300 meters between stops.

[Xu Shenglan / Global Times]

Handy Ticketing for Lhasa Residents

4/12/10 – Residents of Lhasa will be able to use mobile phone tickets according to the China Mobile Tibet Branch (CMTB). The ticket is technically a short message saved in the SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card, which can be read and identified by an automatic entrance ticket examining device at the expo park. Instead of tickets, visitors will swipe their mobile phones on the devices before entering the park. This is the first time for a world expo to introduce mobile phone tickets, said Gao Xianqiang, general manager of the branch’s Marketing Department.

[China Tibet Online, Xinhua]

Arctic Research Lab to Open for Expo

4/11/10 – China’s only icebreaker, Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, will be open to the public for free between June 5 and 12 at Waigaoqiao port, as an extra attraction in collaboration with the Expo. Officials from the Polar Research Institute of China made the statement Saturday in Shanghai, on the home arrival of the nation’s 26th Antarctic expedition. “We will also give lectures and outline Xuelong’s and China’s polar research achievements during the one-week program,” said Qin Weijia, vice director of the institute. The Shanghai Science and Technology Museum will also feature a polar research exhibition, showing samples that scientists brought back from the expedition.

[Cai Wenjun / Shanghai Daily]

Citywide Retail Promotional Campaign Begins

4/9/10 – Departments and local stores in Shanghai are planning a campaign to promote the Expo with merchandising products, effective last Sunday through May 30th. Retailers will promote Expo products, time-honored Chinese brands and Shanghai’s cuisine in major shopping areas. Around 10 billion RMB worth of Expo products has already been sold. “We expect demand will get even stronger after the Expo opens and we are confident to achieve 20 billion yuan sales revenue,” said Chen Yuxian, a Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce official.

[Jin Jing / Shanghai Daily]

Shanghai’s Line 10 Opens

4/9/10 – With the long-awaited line 10 up and running on Saturday, the city now has 11 lines with 420 kilometers’ worth of track, making Shanghai’s subway the longest in the country. Line 10, named the “golden line,” will run by several of the city’s landmarks including Nanjing Road, Huaihai Road, the iconic Yu Yuan Garden, Shanghai’s Library and Wu Jiao Chang, near the famous Fudan University. The new line should relieve the crowded Line 8, which has a similar route in the city’s north neighborhoods.

[Xiao Zha / Shanghai Daily]

Sightseeing Tours to be Offered

4/9/10 – Throughout the Expo’s six months, the Shanghai Sightseeing Bus Center will provide sightseeing packaged tours. Tourists will be able to travel to Shanghai’s suburbs and neighboring provinces by bus, and get a feel for China outside the big city. In summer, they will have the opportunity to travel to Bao Shan district or Zhejiang province and experience local beaches. During the National Day holiday in the fall, tourists will be able to travel to Qing Pu District and Hangzhou province.

[Lu Feiran / Shanghai Daily]

Volunteers Ready for Action

4/8/10 – Around 82,000 volunteers were recruited for the upcoming event attracting 70 million visitors. Most of the volunteers are university students, with around 72,000 working inside the Expo and the other 100,000 working at over 1,000 service centers around the city during the event. More than 55,000 volunteers have already received the required training for the Expo. In addition to the Expo volunteers, around 1.97 million will work as civic volunteers during the Expo’s six months.

[Tom Qian / en.expo2010.cn]

Shanghai-Taipei City Forum Highlights Expo

4/7/10 – Shanghai mayor, Han Zheng, led 260 members in the 10th year anniversary of the Shanghai-Taipei City Forum in Taipei to promote the Expo at the beginning of April. Han Zheng said he hopes his visit to Taipei will boost and strengthen communication and cultural exchanges between the two cities. A global partner for the World Expo, Bank of Communications, will soon allow transactions in RMB and NTD between the two metropolises. Additionally, the two cities are actively pushing for the establishment of a regular direct flight between Hong Qiao Airport in Shanghai and Song Shan Airport in Taipei.

[Xinhua, en.expo2010.cn]

Biz Offering

Shanghai Airports: First Step to Expo 2010

We are pleased to inform you that Hill & Knowlton has recently formed a strategic alliance with JCDecaux Shanghai airports media, and is now launching a “First Step to Expo 2010” offering. With the forecasted 70 million visitors to the Expo, there will be a significant increase of daily flights bringing an unprecedented number of visitors to Shanghai during the six-month period. As the No. 1 touch point for Expo visitors and tourists, Shanghai’s airports are a solid platform to boost your brand exposure, stage promotional events, and make a first impression on consumers in China.

Please get in touch if you are interested in knowing how H&K can help you best leverage this special opportunity. Simply email Marc Arnold at marc.arnold@hillandknowlton.com to receive the offering.

In Brief

McDonald’s Corp plans to serve “Shanghai flavor” meals

.

Blackberry users worldwide will soon have easy access to Expo news

.

Shanghai will see more than 900 parades involving 23 floats throughout the Expo

.

Stringent security checks on all vehicles entering the city are to start next month

_________________________________________________

Participants

Little Mermaid to Leave for Shanghai

3/21/10 – The renowned Little Mermaid will leave Denmark’s Copenhagen harbor Thursday and make her first overseas journey since birth in 1913. After a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the statue will be lifted from the Copenhagen shore. She is expected to greet visitors starting from the end of April and will return to the Danish capital by the end of November. The bronze statue was created by Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen according to Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale that bears the name. Renowned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei (known for the Olympic Stadium “Bird’s Nest” in Beijing) will create a video installation from footage of the Little Mermaid’s journey to Shanghai. A documentary will be shown on the large screen in the Denmark Pavilion about the Little Mermaid’s journey to Shanghai every evening during the Expo.

[Shen Li / en.expo2010.cn]

New Zealand’s Solid Energy Releases Competition
3/21/2010 – Solid Energy today released the judging criteria for its competition, which challenges senior high school students in its mining communities to write a “well-researched and well-argued” essay on the role of coal in sustainable energy solutions for New Zealand. The main prize will be a trip to the Expo. Solid Energy Chief Executive Officer said: “We received a number of comments from people last week about this competition. We definitely want students to think critically about the topic of the essay and we hope that we get a range of opinions argued in the entries.” Submissions will be up to 2,000 words on the main topic, along with 500 words on why each student would benefit from winning the trip to the Expo. The closing date is 5pm Friday, April 9^th.

[Mediacom, New Zealand Press Association]

Italian Renaissance Masterpieces to Debut

3/19/10 – Two representative works of Caravaggio, one of Italy’s most eminent Renaissance painters, will debut in China for the first time in the Italy Pavilion. The paintings, “Boy with a Basket of Fruit” and “Basket of Fruit,” will leave Italy and be flown to Shanghai in mid-June from the gallery Scuderie del Quirinale in Rome, said Beniamino Quintieri, Italy’s Expo Commissioner General. The paintings showcase “the Italian lifestyle” and convey the idea of “harmonious coexistence of humans and nature,” Quintieri said, adding that 2010 marked the 400th anniversary of Caravaggio’s death. Quintieri also disclosed that Italian masters of opera, symphony, ballet and handicrafts will perform during the Expo.

[Xinhua News Agency]

Café Jubilee to Open Outlet

3/18/10 – Café Jubilee will open its second overseas presence during the Expo with an outlet located within the Malta Pavilion. The Shanghai outlet will follow hot on the heels of the recent inauguration of a Café Jubilee outlet in Budapest in a joint venture with the Corinthia Group of Companies. A new Café Jubilee menu, wine, and drinks list have been created, modeled on those offered in outlets in Malta, Gozo and Budapest, but slightly modified to cater for the Expo environment. “Our brief is to promote traditional Maltese products and we will also be enhancing the visitor experience to the Malta stand by offering a full Café Jubilee menu,” said Alex Scicluna, Chief Executive Officer for Jubilee Group.

[Times of Malta]

China Pavilion Makes Sound Deal

3/17/10 – The China Pavilion will invite visitors to hear the sounds of nature purely “made in China” – by using audio equipment provided by a domestic manufacturer. The Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination yesterday signed an agreement with Sound-king Co on a strategic partnership for audio equipment to be used at the China Pavilion and Expo Theme Pavilion.

[en.expo2010.cn]

General Info

McDonald’s to Launch “Shanghai Flavor” Meal
3/22/10 – McDonald’s Corp plans to serve special “Shanghai flavor” meals in Shanghai, as part of its marketing strategy for the Expo, Shanghai Daily reported. The special meal will be served from April 18th to May 21st, the English-language newspaper said. Kenneth Chan, CEO of McDonald’s China, was cited as saying that the fast-food giant will also use the slogan “I’m lovin’ Shanghai.” He said the company plans to aggressively expand the number of drive-through outlets and McCafes in China by opening 150 to 175 new stores in 2010.

[China Knowledge Press]

Construction in Final Phase

3/19/10 – With about 40 days to go until the Expo, preparation for the international event has entered its final stage. Ninety-five percent of the on-site construction has been completed and the rest will be finished by April 15th. Other major projects for the Expo are also well on track. Reconstruction of the Bund will finish later this month and the Longyao road tunnel, a passageway south of the Expo site, will open to traffic as well.

[China Radio International]

Parades to Extend Throughout Shanghai

3/19/10 – More than 900 parades involving 23 floats will be staged citywide throughout the 184-day Expo. Three routes have been designed, covering 2.6 kilometers in total. Two will be in the Pudong New Area, the main venue of the Expo site, and one will be in Puxi. The 920 parades – five daily on average – are expected to attract 30 million visitors. A number of sponsors for the upcoming fair and neighboring cities of Shanghai, such as Zhoushan and Changshu, yesterday signed cooperation documents with the organizer and will contribute “floating pavilions” to the parades.

[Hu Min / en.expo2010.cn]

BlackBerry to Send Expo News

3/18/10 – Blackberry cell phone users worldwide will be able to read World Expo news provided by Shanghai Daily, as the mobile telecom service provider signed a partnership contract with the Expo organizer last Wednesday. The service will be available from the middle of next month until the Expo ends. According to the contract between Research In Motion, developer of the BlackBerry, and the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, Expo staff will use BlackBerry cell phones at work during the Expo. They’ll have a tailor-made system enabling them to handle e-mails, get updated information and keep in touch with co-workers.

[Jia Feishang / Shanghai Daily]

Expo Displayed at Int’l Tourism Show in Paris

3/18/10 – A workshop of tourism products related to the Expo and its emblematic China Pavilion put the upcoming event in the spotlight of the 2010 International Tourism Show, which opened last Thursday. The China National Tourism Bureau (CNTB), an exhibitor at the show, decorated the workshop with photos and posters featuring the Shanghai Expo, while the red China Pavilion, the largest at the site, stood out prominently in the 1,700-square-meter exhibition area. “By inviting a dozen French tour agencies, we are organizing the workshop to provide information exchange for international professionals attending this tourism show,” Paris Office Director of CNTB, Xue Guifeng, said. “Many French agencies have already developed special products for the Shanghai Expo.”

[Xinhua News Agency]

Shanghai Opens Post Office along Expo Site

3/18/10 – Expo visitors can have customized postcards of themselves made at a post office next to the Expo site during the event, according to the Shanghai Post. The post office, which opened Thursday, will run every day from 7:00 to 24:00 during the Expo. Visitors will be able to take photos inside the Expo park, and ask any service stand of the Shanghai World Expo Post Office to deliver the pictures to the post office, where they will be made into postcards, said Chen Xiaolu, head of the World Expo command center for Shanghai Post. The post office will provide services in Chinese, English and sign language.

[Xinhua News Agency]

Free Maps at Expo Site; Passports to be Issued

3/17/10 – The Expo organizer plans to distribute 80 million free maps of the site to visitors to help them enjoy a convenient tour. The Expo’s coordination bureau yesterday signed the Shanghai Dow Culture Media Co as a project sponsor for the map design. Twenty million free maps of Shanghai will also be provided to visitors. Meanwhile, five types of “Expo Passports” will be issued. Visitors with a passport will get different commemorative seals at each pavilion; each will have its own ID number. The practice originated at the Montreal Expo in 1967, when the passport could even serve as a ticket. The passports, with three editions – standard, cartoon and classical – are the size of real passports with pictures of pavilions inside. Anti-forgery technologies will be used in the design.

[en.expo2010.cn]

Policy Report

Entering Traffic to be Checked

3/19/10 – All vehicles entering the city will have to go through stringent security checks starting next month to ensure the safety of the Expo. The checks – beginning on April 15 and continuing until November 15 – apply to corporate and private vehicles and trucks, the Shanghai Public Security Bureau said last Thursday. To shorten the checking process, free fast-track passes have been made available for drivers, including expats and overseas Chinese, as of last Friday at city police stations. Officials said they haven’t set any quota for fast-track pass applications. Shanghai traffic authorities announced an Expo transport plan in January, ruling no vehicles except those with special passes be allowed within a seven-square-kilometer zone around the Expo site.

[Ni Yinbin / Shanghai Daily]

Biz Offering

Shanghai Airports: First Step to Expo 2010

We are pleased to inform you that Hill & Knowlton has recently formed a strategic alliance with JCDecaux Shanghai airports media, and is now launching a “First Step to Expo 2010” offering. With the forecasted 70 million visitors to the Expo, there will be a significant increase of daily flights bringing an unprecedented number of visitors to Shanghai during the six-month period. As the No. 1 touch point for Expo visitors and tourists, Shanghai’s airports are a solid platform to boost your brand exposure, stage promotional events, and make a first impression on consumers in China.

Please get in touch if you are interested in knowing how H&K can help you best leverage this special opportunity. Simply email Marc Arnold at marc.arnold@hillandknowlton.com to receive the offering.

In Brief

Earthquake-struck Chile and Haiti will participate in the Expo as scheduled, despite heavy casualties and damage

China promises speedy visa processing for Expo visitors, as well as more hotel space

Marking the 50-day countdown, more high-profile stars are appointed as Expo ambassadors

The new Hongqiao airport terminal opens, making way for a heavy increase in Chinese tourists during the Expo

_______________________________________________________

Participants

USA Pavilion Program Discussed

3/15/10 – In a Silicon Valley-based Mercury News story, entitled “US looks to Shanghai Expo to help ease distrust,” AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach writes that the USA Pavilion will be the closest that millions of Chinese will ever come to an experience of America. And, she said, “What they’ll get – apart from long waits – is a warm welcome and a dose of Hollywood-style entertainment.” It’s “the single biggest opportunity to nation brand that’s ever come along,” Kurtenbach quoted Greg Lombardo, director at BRC Imagination Arts, who is designing and producing the pavilion’s program, and also handling the program at the China Telecoms-China Mobile corporate pavilion. The 45-minute U.S. program will begin with the “Spirit of America” – a video of classic American landscapes, welcoming Chinese with ordinary Americans and celebrities, and messages from President Obama and Hillary Clinton – and proceed to a theater for “The Garden” – a movie about a 10-year-old girl who works to turn a vacant city lot into an urban oasis. The dialogue-free “visual parable” will include computer-generated imagery and 4-D effects, like vibrating seats, mist and lightning, said Lombardo. In other news, it was announced in PublicAffairsAsia.com on Thursday that former China Edelman MD Martin Alintuck is to become the director of communications and main spokesman for the USA Pavilion.

[Elaine Kurtenbach AP Business Writer / MercuryNews.com]

Participants Briefed On Trial Runs

3/13/10 – More than 250 participants were briefed on the Expo’s trial run preparations by Huang Jianzhi, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination. Delegates showed their support to the trial operation, and said they would speed up their projects’ progress and would be glad to participate in the trial operation. The organizers are expected to hold five trial operations between April 20^th and 26^th.

[en.expo2010.cn]

London Completes Carbon-Neutral Buildings

3/12/10 – London has completed construction of two carbon-neutral buildings, as its contribution for the Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA). Games have been designed to let visitors learn about energy-saving and emission-cutting technologies, and experience a healthy lifestyle via interactive means, said Chen Shuo, chief coordinator of the pavilion, last Thursday. The world’s first system to calculate an individual’s carbon dioxide emissions in their daily life was also unveiled. The inspiration for London’s UBPA pavilion came from the Beddington Zero Energy Development, an environmentally friendly housing development near Wallington, in the London borough of Sutton. The buildings house a lecture hall, restaurant, exhibition hall and six model rooms. Six designers were chosen to create their own style for each of the rooms, which will have environmentally friendly furniture and decorations.

[en.expo2010.cn]

Smurf becomes Belgium and EU Pavilion Mascot

3/11/10 – Leo Delcroix, Belgium’s commissioner general for the Expo, officially introduced Smurfs as the mascot of the Belgium and EU Pavilion during a press briefing in Brussels last Wednesday. Smurfs, created by Belgian cartoonist Pierre Culliford in 1958, are considered popular in China as well as the rest of the world.

[Xinhua News Agency]

Italy to Showcase 265 Innovation Projects

3/11/10 – Italian Public Administration and Innovation Minister Renato Brunetta and Italy’s government supervisor for the Shanghai Expo, Beniamino Quintieri, presented “The Italy of Innovators” initiative last Wednesday, which will be featured from July 24^th to August 7^th. The Italian pavilion, dubbed “Man’s City,” will showcase 265 innovation projects that won in a national contest. “These projects for innovation represent an unknown Italian reality composed of small and medium enterprises, universities and young people, with new ideas that, thanks to the Expo, will have a great opportunity for promotion and international expansion,” said Brunetta. The projects for innovation come from Italian enterprises, industrial consortiums, universities and research centers. All will be featured online on a special website (both in Italian and Chinese) throughout the Expo.

[Xinhua News Agency]

Quake-hit Chile, Haiti to Attend as Scheduled

3/11/10 – Chile and Haiti will participate in the Expo as scheduled, despite the heavy casualties and damage that the two countries faced due to powerful earthquakes. This was announced by Wan Jifei, executive director of the Shanghai World Expo Executive Committee, at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, the top political advisory body. Wan said the Expo’s executive committee has kept close contact with Chile and Haiti, after each encountered deadly earthquakes. The organizing committee will continue to support Chile and Haiti, to ensure the opening of their pavilions as scheduled, Wan said. Construction of the Chile Pavilion was completed last November and has begun its decoration and exhibition layout.

[Xinhua News Agency]

General Info

Hongqiao Expands for Expo

3/14/10 – The latest mega- infrastructure project to be completed before the Expo will be the brand-new airport terminal at Hongqiao airport, which is being unveiled Tuesday. The city has spent 2.2 billion dollars on the makeover of Hongqiao airport, located just half-an-hour from the city centre, and made it part of an ultramodern travel hub linking a metro, high-speed rail and proposed maglev train line. Pudong Airport is Shanghai’s main airport for international flights, while Hongqiao is used mainly by domestic airlines; officials anticipate the vast majority of the 70-100 million visitors expected during the Expo will come from China. The new terminal is four times as big as the old one, which was designed for 9.6 million passengers a year but handled more than 25 million in 2009. The new terminal and a second runway are part of a chain of projects that will see up to 400 billion yuan (58 billion dollars) in direct and indirect investment in the Expo, according to state media – more than the 290 billion reportedly spent on the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

[Linda Shan / AFP]

Four Stars Join Expo Firmament

3/12/10 – Four high-profile stars were appointed as Expo ambassadors Friday, on the 50-day countdown to the event’s opening. They are Hong Kong pop and film star Andy Lau, Beijing talk show hostess and businesswoman Yang Lan, gymnast and entrepreneur Li Ning, and contemporary classical composer Tan Du. Other Expo ambassadors include Hong Kong movie star Jackie Chan, pianist Lang Lang, and NBA star Yao Ming.

[en.expo2010.cn]

Expo Bureau Awarded for Foreign Publicity

3/12/10 – The Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination last Thursday received the Silver Dove Award, the city’s top foreign publicity award, for its pamphlet, documentary, promotional videos and exhibitions. The winning works are “World Expo 2010 Shanghai China,” a pamphlet that presents an overall introduction of the fair, the documentary “A Hundred-Year Dream of Expo,” two promotional videos “City Rhapsody: A Preview of the Site of Expo Shanghai” and “A Grand Gathering of the World Cultures,” as well as the Expo Exhibition Center in downtown Shanghai, which hosts exhibitions about participants’ displays. Yang Zhenwu, minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Shanghai Committee, addressed the importance of media coverage for the Expo and stressed the application of new media in foreign publicity. Also at the ceremony was Song Chao, deputy minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Shanghai Committee and director-general of the Shanghai Municipal Information Office.

[en.expo2010.cn]

Expo Tickets Available in Vietnam

3/12/10 – A fair to start the sales of Expo tickets was held in the Vietnamese capital city of Hanoi on Friday. The participation of Vietnamese companies and visitors will surely contribute to the success of the Expo, said Chen Xianjin, deputy director of the Shanghai World Expo Coordination Bureau. The Vietnam Pavilion has chosen the theme “1,000-year-long history of Hanoi”, said Le Tien Tho, Vietnam’s deputy culture, sports and tourism minister for the Expo. The design of the pavilion highlights Vietnamese culture, and traditional musical instruments will be showcased and played. Tho said this year marks the Year of Friendship between Vietnam and China, and that Vietnam’s Expo participation is of great importance in bilateral relations.

[Dawa News]

Policy Report

East China’s Heliport to Provide ‘Air Guard’

3/15/10 – A heliport in east China’s Jiangsu Province will be ready in early April for providing “air guard” services for the Expo, heliport investors said Monday. The main part would be completed in early April – five months faster than it usually takes to build such a heliport, said Lu Yong, chief executive officer of Ruohang Transportation Development Co., Ltd – and a patrol drill will be held on April 15^th. It will take only 20 minutes to fly from the heliport to Shanghai, the fastest way to get to the Expo site if there was an emergency. When fully completed by the end of 2010, it will be able to support 50 helicopters, Lu said.

[Xinhua News Agency]

China Promises Speedy Visa Processing for Expo

3/9/10 – China will provide speedy visa processing for visitors to the Expo, as well as more hotel space, with help from surrounding cities. With support from the Foreign Ministry, it is already “an established policy” to provide quick visa processing for Expo visitors from around the world, said Zhou Hanmin, deputy director of the Expo’s executive committee, last Monday at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). To receive the coming waves of visitors, a total of 550,000 beds will be available inside Shanghai during the Expo, and visitors can stay in nearby cities if Shanghai cannot hold all of them. To further assist, efforts have been made to provide easy transportation between Shanghai and its surrounding cities.

[en.expo2010.cn]

Biz Offering

Shanghai Airports: First Step to Expo 2010

We are pleased to inform you that Hill & Knowlton has recently formed a strategic alliance with JCDecaux Shanghai airports media, and is now launching a “First Step to Expo 2010” offering. With the forecasted 70 million visitors to the Expo, there will be a significant increase of daily flights bringing an unprecedented number of visitors to Shanghai during the six-month period. As the No. 1 touch point for Expo visitors and tourists, Shanghai’s airports are a solid platform to boost your brand exposure, stage promotional events, and make a real first impression on consumers in China.

Please get in touch if you are interested in knowing how H&K can help you best leverage this special opportunity. Simply email Marc Arnold at marc.arnold@hillandknowlton.com to receive the offering.

In Brief

Visitors pose with Real Madrid as the Madrid Pavilion’s promotion week kicks off

-

A deal is signed for the Mexico Pavilion to be moved post-Expo from Shanghai to Wuxi

-

About 100 state leaders will attend the Expo’s opening ceremony, a light and sound show on the Huangpu River

-

Shanghai begins an eight-month-long series of activities commemorating the city’s relationship with Jewish migrants during WWII

____________________________________________________

New: Biz Offering

Shanghai Airport: First Step to Expo 2010

We are pleased to inform you that Hill & Knowlton has recently formed a strategic alliance with JCDecaux Shanghai airports media, and is now launching a “First Step to Expo 2010” offering. With the forecasted 70 million visitors to the Expo, there will be a significant increase of daily flights bringing an unprecedented number of visitors to Shanghai during the six-month period. As the No. 1 touch point for Expo visitors and tourists, Shanghai’s airports are a solid platform to boost your brand exposure, stage promotional events, and be the first to connect with consumers in China.

Please get in touch if you are interested in knowing how H&K can help you best leverage this special opportunity. Simply email Marc Arnold at marc.arnold@hillandknowlton.com to receive the offering.

Participants

Madrid Week Begins, Featuring Life-Sized Real Madrid

3/9/10 – As part of Madrid Pavilion Promotion Week, which opened yesterday, organizers set up a life-sized group photo of Real Madrid for visitors to have a simulated group photo taken with the football stars. Visitors can upload the photos to www.madrid2010.org for the photos to be attached to the pavilion’s facade. “We want to whet the appetites of future visitors to the Madrid Pavilion before the Expo gets under way in May,” said Ignacio Nino, general coordinator of the Madrid Pavilion. He added that some popular players of the club might appear in the pavilion during the exhibition, and that an exhibition on then will be held in August in the Bamboo House. Madrid’s Bamboo House and Air Tree – replicas of two existing green constructions, which will be located in the UBPA – will remain in Shanghai after the Expo. The promotion week exhibition runs through Sunday, at the Expo Shanghai Exhibition Center on 300 Huaihai Road M.

[Yang Jian / en.expo2010.cn]

Counseling Program to Aid State Grid Pavilion Workers

3/6/10 – The State Grid Pavilion became the first Expo pavilion to offer workers counseling services, as it started its Employee Assistance Programs last Friday. A team of psychology experts will station in the pavilion to offer daily psychological care and counseling to employees as well as help to ease visitors’ possible anxiety during waiting, the pavilion said. The program included a 24-hour counseling hotline, cozy decorated counseling rooms and personized multimedia mobile messaging services offering tips. The Expo is expected to have more than 70 million visitors, which will be a big challenge for pavilions’ employees. The program will run until the last day of Expo 2010, October 31.

[Shen Li / en.expo2010.cn]

Wuxi to Receive Mexico Pavilion Post-Expo

3/4/10 – After the Expo, the Mexico Pavilion will be moved from Shanghai to Wuxi, said the Wuxi Municipal Bureau of Commerce as the two sides signed a relocation deal last Wednesday. Jorge Guajardo, Mexico’s Ambassador to China, and Wang Guozhong, Wuxi’s Deputy Mayor, attended the signing ceremony. The Mexico Pavilion is not a single building but a 4,000 square meter area covered in grass with hundreds of kites made of eco-friendly plastic. Although kites originated in China, they are popular in Mexico; they represent the idea of flying and are the strength that unites Mexican and Chinese cultures, said Eduardo Seldner, Commissioner General of the Mexico Pavilion. As part of the agreement, Wuxi Day will be held at the Mexico Pavilion during the Expo to introduce the city to visitors.

[english.cri.cn]

EU Debuts Pavilion

3/4/10 – Serge Abou, the EU’s ambassador to China and Commissioner-General of the EU Pavilion, unveiled the EU Pavilion at the Brussels-based headquarters of the European Commission last Tuesday. He said that the EU Pavilion centers on the theme of “Intelligent Europe,” and comprises four parts, “Building Europe,” “Open Europe,” “Green Europe” and “Living Europe.” Each respectively focus on the brief history of the EU, the goal of European integration, and the economic and social achievements of Europe, such as the euro and Schengen Zone, environmental protection, the green science and technology revolution, natural landscapes, and the lives of local people. The mascots of the EU Pavilion are two cartoon characters wearing the EU flag, “Ou Ou” and “Meng Meng” (meaning the “European Union”). This is the first time for the EU to participate in a world expo held outside Europe. In January, Jose Manuel Barroso, the European Commission president, told visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao that the EU will make an exception to attend. Due to time constraints, the EU eventually decided to jointly set up a pavilion with Belgium, which will assume the EU’s rotating presidency starting in the second half of this year. The EU section in the Pavilion will cover a 1,000 square meter area.

[People's Daily]

Macao to Share Experience in Historic Building Preservation

3/2/10 – Macao is keen to share its experience of restoration and re-use of historic buildings through its Urban Best Practices Area showcase, said the head of Macao’s preparation office for the Expo recently. Macao will devote a large part of its exhibition areas to displaying its successful experience in rejuvenating local buildings of historic importance, while demonstrating efforts to promote the cultural industry, said Ieong Pou Yee, director of Macao’s Preparation Office for the Expo, at a recent Expo-related launch ceremony. Aside from building the “Jade Rabbit” Macao Pavilion, Macao will also present the Tak Seng On Pawnshop as Macao’s Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA) showcase.

[Xinhua News Agency]

WTCA Maps Out Exhibition Plan

3/4/10 – The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) will explore how trade exchanges contribute to world peace and stability as well as the organization’s history and development in its 2,000 square meter pavilion. Upon entering a tunnel at the entrance, visitors will embark on a journey to explore world trade. The design was inspired by Chinese philosophy, such as “round earth” and “ba gua,” the eight diagrams used in Taoist cosmology representing the fundamental principles of reality. The pavilion’s space can also be turned into a stage or a large exhibition area. The WTCA has planned a series of forums and speeches for the Expo period on environmental protection, science and technology, and fashion.

[Hu Min / en.expo2010.cn]

General Info

Expo to Have 37 Haibao Robots

3/7/10 – Thirty-seven multi-functional robots, customized to serve Shanghai Expo visitors, made their debut on Sunday. Besides dancing and singing, the 1.55-meter tall Haibao-like robots can “communicate” with visitors in six languages and take photos for them, said key designer of the robots Chu Jian, vice president of Zhejiang University. The robots have touch screens on their chests to answer inquiries on road, public service and Expo information, Chu added. The Haibao robots will be placed in Shanghai’s two international airports and at the entrances of some major Expo venues, he said. This will be the first extensive application of robots at a public event in China, according to a statement from the Expo Bureau.

[Xinhua News Agency]

100 State Leaders to Attend Expo Opening

3/6/10 – About 100 state leaders will attend the opening ceremony of the Expo. Wan Jifei, vice-chairman of the Expo organizing committee, said that the opening ceremony will use the Huangpu, Shanghai’s main river, as the setting for a fireworks and special light and sound effects show. Wan expressed his concern about public opinion on the China Pavilion: “I wish it a big success and hope more people can appreciate our efforts in China Pavilion.”

[Ding Qingfen / China Daily]

Care to be Provided for All Expo Volunteers

3/5/10 – Psychological treatment and counseling will be provided for volunteers serving the Expo. The Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination last Friday signed a cooperation agreement with the Shanghai Zengai Foundation – a charity foundation in Shanghai, which will donate 500,000 yuan (US$73,313) for the service and relevant facilities. Given the experiences of previous World Expos, psychological counseling has been seen as a way to help volunteers overcome long hours, extreme temperatures and huge crowds.

[Hu Min / en.expo2010.cn]

Xtep to become Principal Partner for Volunteers

3/4/10 – Leading Chinese fashion sportswear enterprise Xtep announced it has become the principal partner for the Shanghai Expo volunteers. Pursuant to the agreement signed by Xtep and the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination last Tuesday, Xtep was honored as the “Shanghai World Expo Designated Sportswear Provider,” and it will sponsor the outfits for all volunteers within the Expo. The uniforms were also unveiled at the signing ceremony. The stylish design was well regarded by attending media and staff of the Expo. Blended with white and green, and made of natural and environmentally-friendly fabrics that are woven together by cutting-edge knitting technology, the volunteers’ outfits are said to promote a green concept, while demonstrating the themes of harmony, purity and creativity.

[PR Newswire Asia]

SH Commemorates WWII Relationship with Jews

3/2/10 – Shanghai has kicked off an eight-month-long series of activities to commemorate the city’s relationship with Jewish migrants during World War II. Named “Jewish Refugees and Shanghai”, the series will embrace exhibitions, symposiums, reading seminars, documentaries and discussions through the end of October. According to the Consulate General of Germany in Shanghai – a co-organizer with the Jewish Refugee Memorial Hall of Shanghai – the activities aim to express sincere gratitude towards the Chinese citizens who helped Jewish refugees during the war years, and the city of Shanghai, and to let more visitors who come to the Expo better understand the history. In addition, Sherry Zilbergeld, vice consul general of Israel in Shanghai, said the Israel Pavilion will demarcate a special zone for the commemoration.

[Li Xianzhi / Xinhua News Agency]

Cultural Center Hits Final Sprint

3/2/10 – Construction of the Culture Center entered its final sprint last Tuesday, the 60-day countdown to the opening ceremony. The culture center will be finished in late March and put into use for the rehearsal of the opening ceremony.

[Xinhua News Agency]

Policy Report

Plans in Place for Expo River Safety

3/6/10 – Help will arrive within five minutes if anyone falls into the Huangpu River during the the Expo, Shanghai maritime authorities said last Friday when unveiling safety plans for the event. In addition, cleanup ships will arrive within 20 minutes if any vessel releases fuel into the river. Expo ferry services will not be suspended because of typhoons or fog, even during the city’s typhoon season, promised the Expo Maritime Emergency Headquarters Office of the Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration. There will be restrictions on the entry of other vessels to areas near the Expo site in bad weather, to ensure the safe operation of Expo vessels. The administration will dispatch 50 vessels to patrol the river around the clock.

[Yang Jian / Shanghai Daily]

In Brief

* The New York Stock Exchange closing bell rings in the name of Expo 2010 and the USA Pavilion

* New Zealand Prime Minister Hon Jon Key bids farewell to an Expo-bound Maori Canoe

* Four Belgian chocolate producers plan a ‘Chocolate Corner’ at the country’s pavilion, with invitations to 70 chocolatiers

* Motorola announces its successful TD-LTE network deployment at the Expo Center and completes the first indoor over-the-air data sessions

___________________________________________________

Participants

Xiamen to Display ‘Livable City’

3/1/10 – The construction, design and activity organization of the Xiamen Pavilion is nearly complete and ready for its opening on May 2. The pavilion, themed “Charming city, a garden on the sea”, will demonstrate Xiamen’s all-around practices in improving the living environment, creating a warm and livable city, and raising citizens’ living standard through showcases in the exhibition hall, the hosting of cultural activities, and promoting of a livable Xiamen, according to Mr. Zhu Jiangsi, Deputy Director of the Expo 2010 Shanghai China Xiamen Office and Deputy Secretary- General of the Xiamen Municipal Government.

[Xiamen Daily]

Macau to Feature Martial Arts

2/28/10 – The internal design and outfit of the Macau Pavilion will be unveiled by the end of March, as construction of the building has been completed, Expo officials said in Macau last Saturday. Statues of Haibao appeared at eight locations in Macau yesterday. Leong Pou Yee, director of the Office for Preparation of Macau’s Participation in the Expo, said the internal features of the pavilion will be “kept secret” and that visitors can explore “that kind of mystery on their own.” But she said traditional Chinese martial arts will play an important part, as Macau is famous for kung fu, and that martial arts works by Hong Kong writer Louis Cha, pen name Jin Yong, will be incorporated. Macau selected martial artists to play 10 popular characters from Cha’s works, who will be featured in a five-minute online film.

[Zha Minjie  / Shanghai Daily]

Chad Expresses Commitment

2/25/10 – Ahmed Soungui, ambassador of the Republic of Chad to China, said during a recent TV interview that the African country was committed to presenting the most splendid display in the upcoming World Expo in the country’s participation history. Soungui expressed his gratitude, on the Expo-themed program of Shanghai Media Group (SMG), for the sincere help and great support from the Chinese government, and said the upcoming Expo is especially significant for Chad because China is a good friend of Africa and has witnessed sound relationships and exchanges between the two sides. Chad’s presentation will be exhibited at the joint pavilion for African countries.

[Hu Min / en.expo2010.cn]

Czech Issues Expo Stamps

2/24/10 – The Czech Republic has issued a special Expo 2010 stamp featuring its national pavilion. The ceremony was held at the Main Post Office on Jindřišská Street in Prague on February 10, with Pavel A. Stehlik, commissioner general of the Czech Republic, and Marcela Hrdá, general director of the company Česká Pošta (the Czech Post Office), in attendance. The stamp has a face value of 35 CZK (US$1.84) and is being issued in an edition of 70,000. Envelopes from the first day of issue with a special seal are also available. The rented 2,000 square meter Czech Pavilion is themed “Fruits of Civilization” and will feature rubber ice-hockey pucks on its facade, as pucks are a significant Czech export and ice hockey is its national sport.

[Hu Min / en.expo2010.cn]

UK Pavilion Enters Final Stage

2/23/10 – Construction of the UK Pavilion is in its final stage of completion at the Expo site. The UK’s Expo contribution is a cube-like structure pierced by 60,000 slim transparent acrylic rods. Its centerpiece is the Seed Cathedral, where visitors can explore a variety of seeds and plants. The pavilion has been nicknamed “dandelion”, and its theme is “Building on the past, shaping our future.”

[Xinhua News Agency]

Bologna Shoots Video for UBPA Pavilion

2/22/10 – People gathered in central Bologna’s Piazza Maggiore to witness the formation of Italy’s outline in red cloth last Sunday. A video of the event will be used as a central element of the city’s Expo display in the Best Urban Practices Area (UBPA).

[Huang Xiaozhe / Xinhua News Agency]

Kiwis Bid Farewell to Expo-Bound Maori Canoe

2/18/10 – An official delegation including New Zealand Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Hon John Key on Feb 18^th bid farewell to a piece of Maori art that will take center stage at the Expo. During a Maori farewell ceremony two days earlier, Mr. Key and Chinese Ambassador Zhang Limin together carved a small area of the artwork’s waharoa (gateway) at Te Puia Maori Village in the North Island resort town of Rotorua. The 10 meter-high, three meter-wide kauri waharoa, in the shape of a waka maumahara (ceremonial canoe), was then shipped to Shanghai the following week, where the carving will be completed on the forecourt of the New Zealand Pavilion. Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler said the waharoa will give visitors to the pavilion a chance to experience part of New Zealand’s culture firsthand.

[Xinhua News Agency]

Belgium Chocolate Producers to Invite 70 Makers

2/12/10 – Four Belgian chocolate producers will set up a “Chocolate Corner” at the country’s pavilion. Top chocolate brands Godiva, Guylian, Neuhaus and Callebaut, will invite 70 Belgian chocolatiers to the pavilion to showcase their craft and special designs, officials told a press conference in Brussels February 11. The Belgian artists will also contribute special chocolate designs that will combine Chinese cultural elements. Never before have so many top Belgian chocolate manufacturers taken part in a World Expo.

[Hu Min / en.expo2010.cn]

NYSE Bell Rings for Expo, USA Pavilion

2/10/10 – Officials of China and the United States as well as USA Pavilion staff rang the New York Stock Exchange closing bell on Feb 9th, sending their best wishes for the USA Pavilion and the upcoming World Expo. Those who rang the bell included Duncan Niederauer, CEO of NYSE Euronext, Peng Keyu, Chinese consul general in New York, Jose Villarreal, US commissioner general to the Expo, Frank Lavin, chairman of the steering committee of the USA Pavilion, Ellen Eliasoph, co-chair of the pavilion, and representatives of global sponsors. Villarreal noted that “sponsorship of the USA Pavilion by NYSE Euronext, the exclusive sponsor for equities and derivatives exchanges and markets of the USA Pavilion, serves as a powerful signal to American business that the Expo is an important platform for promoting Sino-US commerce.”

[Hu Min / en.expo2010.cn]

Sponsors

Motorola Deploys TD-LTE Showcase Network

2/24/10 – Motorola, China Mobile Communications Corporation’s (CMCC) primary TD-LTE solution partner for providing indoor coverage for all major pavilions, announced last Wednesday that it had successfully deployed a TD-LTE network at the Expo Center and completed the first indoor over-the-air (OTA) TD-LTE data sessions at the site. “We are pleased that our high quality technologies and services can support CMCC in bringing a TD-LTE experience to Shanghai Expo, which provides many possibilities for a new media mobility lifestyle,” said Dr. Mohammad Akhtar, Vice President and General Manager, Networks, Motorola Asia Pacific.

[www.motorola.com]

General Info

Wen Jiabao Chats on Expo Hope, Hellen Keller

2/28/10 – During an online chat with citizens, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said the Expo will showcase the latest achievements of civilizations around the globe. Premier Wen cited the story of Helen Keller, a famed blind American author who toured the Chicago World Expo in 1893 with the touch of her hands, to convey that world expos can give hope to the world. He also said the Chinese government attaches great importance to the Shanghai World Expo, since the event boosts mutual understanding between China and the rest of the world.

[Xinhua News Agency]

10,000 Journalists Apply for Expo Coverage

2/25/10 – Almost 10,000 journalists from across the world have applied to cover the Expo, according to the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination. The figure includes about 2,000 journalists from overseas media outlets, such as The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, CNN, European Photopress Agency, The Times, Das Erste, NHK, Asahi Shimbun, TVB Hong Kong and ETTV Taiwan, said the Bureau. The Shanghai World Expo News Center and the International Broadcast Center will be open to journalists in April.

[Xinhua News Agency]

Shanghai Confirms First Batch of Expo Families

2/22/10 – To welcome Expo guests, the city has confirmed the first community for family hotel services. A total of 47 families from Zhabei District’s Linfen Community have become the first batch of Expo Families who will provide their rooms for visitors during the Expo. The selected families are all said to be warmhearted and good at cultural communication; many householders have voluntarily bought new furniture and prepared gifts for the upcoming foreign visitors.

[Liu Ying / Xinhua News Agency]

Policy Report

Shanghai to Ensure Clean Air During Expo, Beyond

2/26/10 – Shanghai and its neighboring regions are implementing a string of measures to guarantee good air quality and a healthy environment for the Expo. The Shanghai environmental protection bureau told Xinhua last Friday that the measures mainly target coal-fired power plants and other polluting sectors, boilers, furnaces and kilns, volatile organic pollutants, dust, motor vehicles and agricultural burn-off. The measures will have long-term effects and continue after the Expo, said bureau chief Zhang Quan.

[Xinhua News Agency]

Dogs Expected for Pre-Expo Vaccinations

2/24/10 – Local police gave out a notice last Tuesday announcing that all dogs need to be vaccinated before the Expo to ensure public safety. An officer surnamed Feng said, “We also encourage owners of the unlicensed dogs to come and get the pets officially registered to get the shots for their dogs.” Only those with a legal police-issued ID are elligible for a vaccination.

[Ashley Shen / shanghaiist.com]

Expo Transport Plan Sees Support

2/21/10 – Expo transport plans, including more use of public transport, have received positive responses from the public, according to the result of an online poll released on Feb 20. Around 49 percent of respondents to a poll on www.eastday.com expressed willingness to take public transport to the Expo site. The Expo transport plan was put online for public comment from January 8 to 18, and encourages the use of public transport while limiting driving and motorcycles under certain circumstances. The most controversial aspect of the plan, the possible banning of cars on certain days, will only be put into effect in case of extreme and widespread traffic congestion, officials said. They added that the Expo site should be accessible from anywhere in the city within 90 minutes by bus, subway and special taxis.

[Hu Min / en.expo2010.cn]

In Brief

Construction of the China Pavilion is completed after two years of work

Shakespeare and a ‘Seed Cathedral’ are highlighted in the UK Pavilion’s unveiled plans

Famous Portuguese pop singers are slated to perform on June 6, Portugal Day

General Motors chooses student reporters for its auto efforts in the SAIC-GM Pavilion

Participants

Spain to Cover Wicker Pavilion in Tiger Print

2/9/10 – Spain will offer its 2010 Chinese New Year’s greetings throughout the entire duration of the Expo – with its wicker pavilion exterior covered in a tiger “skin”. The steel frame of the 7,000 square meter Spain Pavilion, which is located in a prominent position on the bank of the Huangpu River near Lupu Bridge, will be colored with brown, beige and black panels, to create the look of a tiger.

[en.expo2010.cn]

China Pavilion Construction Completed

2/08/10 – Construction of the China Pavilion was completed Monday morning after two years of work. In the shape of an oriental crown, the main structure includes a six-layer, 30-meter-high roof made of traditional wooden brackets – 56 altogether, to symbolize the nation’s minority ethnic groups. Below the main structure is a 45,000-square-meter joint pavilion, featuring displays from local provinces, cities and regions. After the Expo, the 160,000-square-meter structure will be converted into a museum of Chinese history and culture.

[AFP, Shanghai Daily]

AA to be USA Pavilion Airline Passenger Sponsor

2/08/10 – American Airlines was announced as the exclusive airline (passenger) sponsor of the USA Pavilion on Monday, joining the group of corporate sponsors that have pledged to provide world-class expertise and services to showcase America’s best at the Expo. “Every day American Airlines is helping the peoples of the U.S. and China experience each other’s great countries and deepen their mutual understanding,” said Nick Winslow, President of the USA Pavilion. “We look forward to working with American Airlines to help Americans visit the Shanghai World Expo, and to inspire our Pavilion guests to come explore the USA.”

[Shanghai Expo 2010 Inc. News Flash]

Venezuela Pavilion Nears Planned Completion

2/6/10 – The Venezuela Pavilion plans to be finished before the Chinese Spring Festival (this year on February 14), said Issam Wahdan, head of construction, during the Pavilion’s roof-topping ceremony last Friday. The 3,000 square meter pavilion will look like a figure eight – an auspicious number in both China and Venezuela. The article mentions that in Venezuelan culture, “8” depicts “a gradual process of improvement, an endless journey, a boundless and limitless city, a new society which includes everyone and has democracy as its key element of development.” The pavilion’s theater will stage performances by the national orchestra and other stars. A plaza will feature an open air restaurant and sell many typical Venezuelan foods.

[en.expo2010.cn]

Sarkozy Looking Forward to Expo Visit

2/5/10 – French president Nicolas Sarkozy noted during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi at Elysee Palace that he is looking forward to attending the Shanghai Expo. The two sides reiterated that they attach great importance to their relationship and are ready to further enhance bilateral cooperation on major international and regional issues.

[english.cri.cn]

UK to Sow Seeds for the Expo

2/4/10 – The United Kingdom Pavilion’s exhibition plans were unveiled by a senior UK official Wednesday. The program will involve open-air performances, including works by William Shakespeare, and some star guests. With its theme, “Building on the past, shaping our future”, visitors will also be invited to watch, touch and recognize more than 60,000 seeds of different plants at the pavilion’s core exhibition. The 20-meter-high hollow cube-like structure, or “Seed Cathedral”, will be embedded with seeds in the walls and ceiling. Demonstrating the concept of sustainability, diversity of nature and potential of life, the seeds will be well-protected in the surrounding hair-like fibers, and can be planted after the Expo is over.

[Yang Jian / en.expo2010.cn]

Australia Unveils Exhibit on Indigenous Art

2/4/10 – The Australia Pavilion has picked ‘Bedrock’ as the first exhibit visitors will see to showcase Australia’s indigenous art. The stunning exhibit, designed by artists from Maningrida Arts and Culture in the Northern Territory, is designed to introduce visitors to Australia’s indigenous culture, said Lyndall Sachs, commissioner general for Australia. “‘Bedrock demonstrates a unique fusion of Australian traditional and contemporary art forms, and pays tribute to the important role indigenous art plays in Australia’s rich culture,” she added.

[en.expo2010.cn]

General Motors Selects Expo Student Reporters

2/4/10 – Three students from Tongji University will serve as student reporters for the SIAC-GM Pavilion after a three-month competition launched by General Motors. Having beat about 100 contestants, they will cover Expo-related activities for GM through videos, news stories, blogs and online interaction. Panel judges praised the winners for their impressive innovation, knowledge and eloquence. Visitors will get to see what vehicles may look like in 2030 in the auto pavilion, which is being built by the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp and GM.

[Hu Min / en.expo2010.cn]

DLA Becomes Official Liverpool Sponsor

2/3/10 – Law firm DLA Piper is the latest company to become an official sponsor of the Liverpool Pavilion. The firm, which employs more than 400 people in the North West, is the first in its sector to sign up to showcase the region’s professional services at the event.

[Joanne Birtwistle / www.thebusinessdesk.com]

HK to Offer Fashion Shows and Film Debuts

2/3/10 – A press conference about “Hong Kong welcoming the 2010 Expo” in the region was given last Tuesday. About one million HK people are estimated to visit the Expo, Wang Jinzhen, a member of the National Organizing Committee of the Expo and vice chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, told the conference. Hong Kong will embrace its theme week during the Expo from October 18 to 22 with fashion shows and film debuts, he also said. There will be 47 cultural performances from the special administrative region during the fair, featuring Cantonese opera, Chinese and western music, multi-media shows and dance. The SAR will explore the theme “Hong Kong – the Infinite City,” with a focus on its transport network, advanced scientific facilities, financial and trade systems, multinational culture and sustainable high-quality urban life.

[Hu Min / en.expo2010.cn]

Construction of Macao Pavilion Completed

2/3/10 – Construction of the Macao Pavilion, “Lanterna do Coelhinho”, has been completed and is now in the process of decoration and exhibition preparation, Macao’s Office for Preparation at the Expo confirmed last Tuesday. The Macao Pavilion is covered by a double-layer glass membrane and fluorescent screens. Kinetic balloons will form the head and tail of the “rabbit”, which, in Chinese mythology, welcomes visitors into a magical fairyland. The Macao Pavilion will showcase the Macao Special Administrative Region’s (SAR) recent economic developments, and social and cultural achievements, through advanced multimedia technology and interactive features.

[China Daily]

Portuguese Pop Stars to Perform

2/2/10 – Famous Portuguese singers Mariza and Sonia Tavares will perform at the Expo for Portugal Day on June 6, said the Portuguese Commissariat last Monday. Programs celebrating Portugal Day will include the song “Arruada Minhota,” a folklore event and a performance by Zes Pereiras, a Portugese group from Viana do Castelo city. Sonia Tavares, vocalist for the pop band The Gift, will also perform at the show. The Portugal Pavilion’s core concepts of “a square of the world” and “a world of energies” is to promote the creativity and innovation of the Portuguese people and Portugal’s geo-strategic position as a port on the Atlantic Ocean.

[Xinhua News Agency]

General Info

Expo Emblems to Adorn Yu Garden Lantern Fair

2/8/10 – The colorful lanterns of the China Pavilion and the festooned lanterns in the Yuyuan Garden were seen during the trial illumination of the 2010 Shanghai Yuyuan Garden New Spring Folklore Artistic Lanterns Fair, in downtown Shanghai on Sunday. The fair will feature the theme protagonists of the Sheng xiao Tiger, and the Expo’s China Pavilion and mascot Haibao.

[Xinhua News Agency]

Haibao Embodies Five Theme Pavilions

2/6/10 – The Expo organizer unveiled five Haibao mascots last Friday for its Theme Pavilions — Urbanian Pavilion, City Being Pavilion and Urban Planets Pavilion in Pudong and the Future Pavilion and Footprint Pavilion in Puxi – allowing the host country to provide visuals for the event’s major theme, “Better City, Better Life.” The mascot for the Urbanian Pavilion is a Haibao family of three and the pavilion will feature stories about different families from around the world. A sporty Haibao is the mascot for the City Being Pavilion, symbolizing the city’s vitality. A forest sheriff Haibao represents the Urban Planets Pavilion, urging environmental protection. The Future Pavilion, showcasing urban life in years to come, has an astronaut Haibao, while the Footprint Pavilion about the history of a city has a Haibao dressed as a professor.

[Yang Jian / en.expo2010.cn]

Expo Looks Low-Carbon Ready

2/4/10 – The Expo will boast the largest solar-photovoltaic solution system in China, with 80 percent of the lighting at night generated by LED lights. Electric, super-capacitor and hydrogen cars will also be in use during the Expo to save fuel costs and cause less pollution. These measures will offset carbon emissions during the Expo by an estimated 60 to 70 percent.

[China Daily]

Expo-Themed Jewelry Auctions Held

2/2/10 – With the arrival of the Spring Festival, the Expo franchise offices and Lifestyle Diamond Joint Management Office announced that an exhibition-cum-auction of Expo-licensed products, including diamond jewelry, gold and gem stones, will be held on the eve of the Spring Festival. Nearly a thousand exhibit pieces were already put on display and auctioned, including 11 precious items, on Sunday. Seven Shanghai-based diamond jewelry companies have reached agreements to become Expo licensed product manufacturers and retailers, to make and sell diamond, gold and other jewelry items.

[NewsTrak Daily]

In Brief

The Portugal Pavilion discusses hosting football stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo

Liverpool makes a promotional 3D video with an LA-based special effects guru

Various licensed Expo products go on sale at Wal-Mart China’s Nanpu Bridge site

The need for online volunteers is addressed as officials consider cyber safety

Participants

Michelin Sponsors France Pavilion

1/30/10 – French tire maker Michelin became one of the France Pavilion’s major sponsors last Friday. Michelin’s corporate signature is “A Better Way Forward,” which echos with the Expo theme “Better City, Better Life,” the article writes, expressing the group’s commitment to making road mobility safer, and more respectful of people and the environment. The corporate mascot, Bibendum, or the Michelin man, will appear hand in hand with the pavilion’s mascot, Léon, at the pavilion throughout the Expo. The corporation will also be distributing Shanghai travel guides in English. The France Pavilion covers an area of 6,000 square meters and will greet visitors with six “senses”; Michelin, which is researching noise reduction technology for tire noise, will take charge of the hearing sense.

[Shen Li / en.expo2010.cn]

Rhône-Alpes to Stage Light Show in UBPA

1/29/10 – France’s Rhône-Alpes region plans to stage a spectacular 20-minute light show at its pavilion throughout the Expo, to exhibit its energy-efficient illumination system. There will be seminars and performances centered on the region’s lighting technology and art, and its human-oriented approach to light pollution reduction and eyestrain relief. The system will also light up some areas of the Urban Best Practices Area, covering 15 hectares. An area entitled “Lighting Cities” will highlight an architecturally eco-friendly concept by using ecological materials. There will also be a rose garden covering 670 square meters in the pavilion’s open square, showcasing blossoming roses. At the pavilion’s restaurant, which can accommodate 150 to 200 people, visitors will be able to taste authentic French delicacies and learn French-style cooking.

[Hu Min / en.expo2010.cn]

Expo Goods Now on Wal-Mart Shelves

1/28/10 – A range of licensed Expo products went on sale at Wal-Mart China’s Nanpu Bridge branch last Tuesday. The 150 types of products include textiles, bags, ceramics and accessories. Wal-Mart, as a sponsor of the USA Pavilion, was granted authorization as a retailer of Expo licensed products this month. It selected its store near the Nanpu Bridge as the first branch to sell Expo products due to its location adjacent to the site. Rob Cissell, chief operating officer of Wal-Mart China, said the company felt honored to be part of the upcoming Expo.

[Hu Min / en.expo2010.cn]

Smog Clearing Paint & Other Italian Inventions to be Highlighted

1/29/10 – The Italy Pavilion will feature the country’s latest innovations – including a paint that cleans the air by eating smog – for two weeks at the Expo. The Commission of Italy for the Expo made the announcement last Thursday and said 300 winning inventions will be exhibited in its pavilion from late July to early August. The inventions were submitted by small businesses, groups of companies, universities, research centers, and science and technology parks in Italy. A jury of experts chose the winners based on criteria such as urban development and people’s quality of life, complementing the Expo’s “Better City, Better Life” Theme.

[Yang Jian / en.expo2010.cn]

Survey Shows USA Pavilion Most Anticipated

1/28/10 – The United States’ pavilion is the Expo’s most anticipated foreign country exhibition center, a new survey reveals. The U.S. is followed by France, the UK, Japan and South Korea respectively. Despite the country being one of the last to confirm its participation, as many as 48% of the correspondents intend to visit the USA Pavilion, notably due to its theme. Pavilions need to promote a powerful theme that reflects both the contents of the pavilion and the country’s brand, to create greater familiarity and bring in more traffic, suggested Debby Cheung, group managing director of Ogilvy Public Relations China. Other factors that may affect visitors’ choices include art and culture exhibitions, high-tech experiences and interactive activities.

[Bao Daozu / China Daily]

Liverpool Makes 3D Promo with Special Effects Expert

1/27/10 – A leading special effects guru is in Liverpool shooting a 3D film to promote the city at the Expo. Max Penner, of Los Angeles-based Paradise FX, is working with Liverpool agency River Media this week to produce the 10-minute film, which will feature places like Albert Dock, and be shown at the main entrance of the Liverpool Pavilion. Penner has previously worked with the director of the 3D blockbuster “Avatar,” James Cameron. Mike Taylor, creative director for Liverpool at the Shanghai Expo, said, “Liverpool is a world class city, exhibiting on a world stage and we want a world-class production to sell our offer, and Paradise FX are world leaders in their field and in demand all over the world.”

[David Bartlett / Liverpool Daily Post]

Ronaldo, Figo in Talks over Expo Appearance

1/27/10 – Portuguese football stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo may appear at the Portugal Pavilion, an official said last Tuesday. The Portugal Expo team is in talks with both players about coming to the Expo, said Rolando Borges Martins, Portugal’s commissioner general for the Expo. Portugal’s Expo theme is “Portugal, A Plaza to the World, Portugal, A Whole World of Energies,” which refers to the country’s experience as a force in cultural and commercial exchanges, as well as its new energy uses.

[Yang Jian and Benjamin-Darrow Goodman / Shanghai Daily]

New Zealand to Recount Maori Creation Story

1/26/10 – New Zealand’s team unveiled the country’s pavilion exhibition design concept – a dream-like journey involving the Maori creation story. The pavilion’s theme, “Cities of Nature: Living between Land and Sky,” was inspired by the Maori creation story of Tane. Architecturally, the wedge-shaped pavilion extends the story into a three act play – the welcoming space (plaza), the interior, and the rooftop garden, said Dean Cato, director of Story Inc and creator of the international touring exhibition for “The Lord of the Rings”. Besides Story Inc, the dream team of New Zealand’s award-winning designers includes Plan 9, the music composer for “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, and Kim Jarrett, the greens master for King Kong.

[Hu Min / en.expo2010.cn]

General Info

CRI to Put Out English-language E-mag

2/1/10 – China Radio International (CRI), as an Expo media partner, is launching an official multi-language e-magazine for the Expo. “Charm of A City,” designed and produced by CRI, will present a panoramic view of the Expo for global readers through a combination of high-resolution pictures, official video clips and refined writing. The e-magazine, capturing the Expo theme of “Better City, Better Life,” aims to highlight how Shanghai’s development can elevate the happiness of its residents through a variety of columns. It will be issued monthly during the Expo’s preparatory stage and updated every two weeks throughout the event.

[Jiang Aitao / English.cri.cn]

Overseas Chinese Stage Gala in Australia

2/1/10 – Overseas Chinese in Australia staged a gala in late January to celebrate the 100-day countdown to the Expo. The gala at Hurstville City Council in southern Sydney gathered about 1,000 viewers on January 24, and was hosted by the promotional organizing committee of Australia for Expo 2010. The organizer sent promotional materials and souvenirs for the event, which will fuel a two-month campaign in five cities: Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and Cairns.

[en.expo2010.cn]

Need for Online Volunteers Discussed

1/28/10 – The city should recruit volunteers to protect official World Expo 2010 Websites from hackers, said top political advisory body member You Minjian on Wednesday at the annual session of the Shanghai Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. You said that although the city was recruiting about 170,000 volunteers to serve the event at pavilions and on the Expo site, there were no volunteers assigned to serve online. “The security of the Web sites has been a great challenge facing us, as the Expo Online is expecting Web traffic exceeding 100 million,” he explained. “Measures should be taken immediately to ensure safe Internet browsing during the event.” Besides maintenance of online security, the volunteers could also be involved in online Expo promotion, he added. Expo Online will be an extension of the real World Expo, combining 3D exhibitions, events and interactive activities. The organizer said it has set up more than 100 servers for the Web site to ensure that more than 300,000 people can browse at the same time.

[english.eastday.com, Shanghai Daily]

Huangpu to Offer 7 ‘Water Gates’

1/27/10 – An Expo passenger ferry was pilot tested in Shanghai last Tuesday, following the recent release of a plan for waterborne traffic to the Expo. In addition to land-based entrances, the Expo is building seven “water gates,” where visitors can enter via the Expo Garden from passenger ferries, according to a Wednesday report from Xinhua News Agency. The gates are now being completed in turn, with ferries beginning their pilot runs.

[www.huanqiu.com, Xinhua News Agency]