EXPO Express

Special Report! Hill & Knowlton has been appointed by the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination to serve as an official PR service supplier of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai China.

In Brief

Hill & Knowlton is appointed as the Expo’s official PR service supplier

Secretary of State Hilary Clinton supports the USA Pavilion team, along with a US Expo presence

Construction begins on the golden sand dunes of the UAE Pavilion

The upcoming Expo Shanghai Online website claims its domain, www.expo.cn

Special Report

H&K Appointed as PR Service Supplier

4/4/09 – Hill & Knowlton was appointed as the Expo’s public relations service provider on Friday. Zhu Yonglei, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, said during the ceremony that Expo preparation is now at a crucial stage, and so is its PR service. Zhu said that he looks forward to further professional advice from H&K. James B. Heimowitz, H&K’s president and CEO of North Asia, thanked the bureau for its appointment and promised that the company will mobilize all its international resources for a successful Expo. Also attending the ceremony was Marylee Sachs, chairman of H&K USA, and David Zhao, managing director of H&K Shanghai. For more information, visit http://en.expo2010.cn/a/20090404/000002.htm. [World Expo 2010 Official Website]

Participants

US Government Supports National Presence, Expo 2010 Team

4/6/09 – It was announced on Monday that US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has issued a letter supporting US representation at the Expo. Addressing the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai as well as leading trade US-China trade associations, Clinton urged full support of the US effort and the official Shanghai Expo 2010 Team. China News Agency quotes one of the the pavilion heads, Ellen Eliasoph, saying, “The US Pavilion, which will form a key element of one of the most spectacular events in world history, will showcase American ingenuity, innovation and its ‘Can Do’ spirit in China’s most dynamic city, embody America’s commitment to the ‘greening’ of our country and the world, and foster an ever stronger friendship between the American and Chinese peoples.” [China News Agency]

Kyrgyzstan Signs On

4/3/09 – Kyrgyzstan signed its participation contract with the organizers and confirmed its participation with the Expo Shanghai Online website on Friday. With the theme “Bishkek – the city open for the world,” the nation’s exhibition will be located in the Joint Asian Pavilion and will showcase the culture, traditions and development of its capital, Bishkek. At the event, Djumasarlyk Nurzhanov, Kyrgyzstan’s commissioner general for the Expo, said the event will be important for developing countries such as his. [World Expo 2010 Official Website]

UAE Breaks Ground

4/2/09 – Construction began Thursday on the United Arab Emirates Pavilion – a huge golden sand dune inspired by the country’s desert. The outer covering of the pavilion will be gold-colored stainless steel and its undulating roof will make the pavilion shimmer and change colors. The shape of the pavilion is also designed to protect against the direct glare of the city’s summer sun, while allowing indirect light to enter the pavilion via louvers. It will be 20 meters high, and cover 6,000 square meters. Inside, UAE citizens from all walks of life will meet visitors, to chat and talk about their daily lives, said Peter Vine, the UAE Expo team’s coordinator. He said the country planned to dismantle the pavilion and bring it home after the Expo, where it will be turned into a cultural exhibition center. The UAE was awarded a gold medal for its pavilion at the 2008 Zaragoza Expo. [World Expo 2010 Official Website]

Construction of Hamburg Home Begins

3/31/09 – Construction began last Tuesday on Hamburg’s Urban Best Practices Area showcase. The eco-friendly “Hamburg Home” will offer a comfortable environment, without traditional heating or air-conditioning, and incorporate both living and office functions. The house was inspired by the German city’s “Hafen City” project, in which old buildings along the River Elbe are being renovated into environmentally friendly, technologically advanced structures. [World Expo 2010 Official Website]

Austria Inks Contract

3/31/09 – Austrian officials and the organizer signed a participation contract in Austria last Monday, confirming the nation will build its 2,000 square meter “Feel the Harmony” pavilion. At the event, Chinese football star and Austria Vienna player, Sun Xiang, was appointed to be an Expo ambassador. The 16 million Euro ($21.1 million) Austria Pavilion will represent the nation’s natural scenery and landmark buildings, such as the Vienna City Hall, and will offer classical music composed by Mozart and the Strauss family. [World Expo 2010 Official Website]

Brunei Darussalam Confirms

3/31/09 – The Southeast Asian nation of Brunei Darussalam signed its participation contract with the organizer last Tuesday in Shanghai and confirmed its attendance on the Expo Shanghai Online website. The nation will rent a 1,000 square meter pavilion to display its education, diversified economy and environmental protection services. [World Expo 2010 Official Website]

General Info

Shanghai Flower Show Offers Expo Flair

4/7/09 – Expo-themed blossoms were featured at this year’s Shanghai Flower Show in the Shanghai Botanical Gardens, which opened this Friday ahead of the Tomb-Sweeping Festival. More than 60,000 people visited over the three-day holiday. Of the 3,000 flower varieties on display, many were Expo-themed, with names such as “The Home of Haibao” and “The Volunteers’ Action.” Also featured were new technologies in cultivating soilless greenery, which is expected to play an important role in the city’s Expo decoration. [World Expo 2010 Official Website]

Musharraf Visits Expo Site

4/3/09 – Pervez Musharraf, the former president of Pakistan, paid a visit to the coordination bureau and Expo site on Friday, extending his best wishes for the event’s success. In his words: “The briefing and development that I have seen today was indeed an eye-opening experience. Pakistan rejoices in your achievements.” In its 2,000 square meter “Harmony in Diversity” pavilion, Pakistan will showcase its culture, history and customs, as well as give visitors a taste of its ancient city of Lahore. [World Expo 2010 Official Website]

Expo Claims Domain Name

3/31/09 – The domain name www.expo.cn has been chosen for Expo Shanghai Online, the first interactive online program in Expo history. This was announced by the organizer at a seminar for the BIE, also called the International Expositions Bureau, held in Paris last Monday. The website will officially open on May 1, 2010, offering visitors a three-dimensional view of the pavilions as well as the ability to visit every corner of the Expo site and virtually experience its exhibitions and performances. It is reported the website will go partially live soon, with a trial two-dimensional image of the Expo site. There are currently 166 participants confirmed for Expo Shanghai Online, of whom 21 will individually develop virtual spaces and exhibitions. At the BIE conference, Secretary General Vicente Loscertales said the online Expo is “a milestone and a turning point” in the Expo’s more than 150-year history. He told the seminar, of 70 delegates from 29 countries and international organizations, that the program will generate substantial value for the Expo and hopefully go beyond the event itself. [World Expo 2010 Official Website]