EXPO Express

In Brief

PM Stephen Harper attends Canada’s pavilion unveiling, and welcomes his country’s special approved status for increased Chinese tourists

Expo ticket sales begin in the U.S., with a promotion campaign in San Francisco and a letter from Arnold Schwarzenegger

Sweden selects Pippi Longstocking to be a tour guide; Denmark plans for a million liters of Copenhagen Harbor seawater to house the Little Mermaid

Shanghai continues its call for 1.2 million residents to become volunteers and maintain order in the city and Expo site

Participants

Canadian PM Unveils Pavilion

12/6/09 – Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper attended the unveiling of his country’s pavilion on Saturday. After inspecting it, Harper placed the pavilion’s nameplate and unfurled the national flag; once the interior design and decoration is complete, the pavilion will be ready for a test-run in March. On Friday, Harper welcomed a decision by Beijing to grant Canada special approved status, making it easier for Chinese tourists to visit the country. This could prove a boon ahead of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February. The Chinese measure “could generate up to a 50 percent boost in tourism and that is especially timely,” Harper said. “As Canada prepares to welcome the world to Vancouver for the Winter Olympic Games, this new designation will encourage more Chinese tourists to discover all Canada has to offer.” [English.cctv.com/ and AFP]

Scandinavian Nations Announce Expo Developments

12/3/09 – Denmark will bring a million liters of seawater from the Copenhagen Harbor to a pool in its pavilion at the Expo, the pavilion’s chief architect said on Monday, November 30^th, as its steel structure was completed. The water – an apt setting for the iconic statue “Little Mermaid,” which will similarly make the trip from Denmark – will demonstrate Copenhagen’s success in cleaning up a polluted harbor that is currently safe for swimming. Meanwhile, Sweden announced that Pippi Longstocking, a literary character know for her curiosity and ideas, has been selected as one of its Pavilion’s guides to help visitors discover the country’s “Spirit of Innovation.” Norway also celebrated the completion of its pavilion’s steel structure on Wednesday afternoon by hoisting a pine tree onto the top of the pavilion and unveiling a upper beam which bore the completion date and best wishes. With the theme “Norway, powered by nature,” the pavilion will be constructed around 15 model trees made from Norway’s pine trees and Chinese bamboo. Words from Chinese poems will be carved on each tree. [ Hu Min and Echo Hu / en.expo2010.cn]

Bahrain Joins the Expo, Bringing Total Participants to 226

12/1/09 – Bahrain has signed its official participation contract with the Expo organizer, and will exhibit at a 324-square-meter area in the joint pavilion for Asian countries. A total of 226 participants have signed the agreements to date. Bahrain confirmed its participation in February, 2006, one of the first countries that decided to participate in response to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s invitation.  Bahrain will also participate in Expo Shanghai Online.

Huge Response to SAIC-GM Pavilion’s Competitions

12/1/09 – Nearly 1,000 submissions have been sent to the SAIC-GM Pavilion since it launched two competitions in late October, one for primary and middle school pupils and the other for university students. About 100,000 visitors have clicked on the official Website for “Our 2030″ essay competition for students, asking them to envision what cities will look like in 2030. University students have also overwhelmed the www.our2030.com website, inviting them to imagine the future of urban transportation through an essay or video. Students have presented their proposals for easing traffic congestion, developing energy-efficient vehicles and improving traffic safety.  The winning entries of primary and middle school students will be published in a book, while the winner of the creativity competition for university students will be awarded a 2010 Chevrolet vehicle.  Jin Qi, director of the pavilion, said students’ rich imagination and creativity have made the organizers more confident about a wonderful future in 2030.

[Hu Min / expo2010.cn]

Deloitte Sponsors USA Pavilion

12/4/09 – Deloitte China announced on Friday that it became an official sponsor of the USA National Pavilion at the Expo. Under the sponsorship agreement, Deloitte will be the official accounting and tax advisor of the Pavilion. “China and the U.S. are two major forces in the global economic order, and are two of the important markets for Deloitte, so it is fitting and we are delighted to participate in the Shanghai World Expo by contributing our professional services to the USA Pavilion,” said Chris Lu, CEO, Deloitte China. Deloitte will also establish a team of accounting and tax professionals to support the development and management of the pavilion. “Deloitte fully supports the Shanghai World Expo and the USA Pavilion as we share similar values and principles, such as our appreciation of cultural diversity and dedication to social responsibility,” added Paul Siu, Managing Partner of Eastern Region, Deloitte China. [USA Pavilion Press Release]

General Info

Residents Sign Up As Expo Volunteers

12/4/09 – Shanghai is calling on 1.2 million people to patrol the streets and oversee the manufacturing sectors for the Expo. The Shanghai Ping’an Volunteers will serve a range of roles including apprehending queue-jumpers, giving directions and generally maintaining law, order and “face” on behalf of the hosts. Ping’an is mandarin Chinese for security. Another group, the Industry Ping’an Volunteers, will stand on the frontline of the manufacturing sector to prevent food safety transgressions and other accidents from arising during the production process. Many of the volunteers will be retirees. In addition to the 1 million volunteers earmarked to serve everywhere from local neighborhoods to airports, scenic spots and bus stops, organizers need a further 170,000 helpers in and around the Expo garden. So far the city has enlisted 800,000 Ping’an volunteers. The first batch will take to the streets next month. Local residents and people aged 18-65 who have lived in the city longer than one year are encouraged to apply through various neighborhood committees throughout the city. [Wang Zhenghua/ China Daily]

Expo Ticket Sales Start in the US

12/3/09 – A total of 11.8 million tickets for the Expo have been sold by the end of November, the organizers announced during a ticket promotion campaign in San Francisco, California, Tuesday night Shanghai time.  The Expo organizer granted a plaque to US-based Ticketmaster and the Peregrine Travel Group to handle ticket sales in the country, announcing that American residents can start booking tickets or Expo tour packages ranging from seven to 13 days. In his letter for the occasion, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger expressed his support for the event. He said the Expo would gather various achievements in global outstanding architectural, scientific and technological innovations, which would promote cultural understanding and exchange around the world.  About 200 U.S. guests attended the ceremony at the St. Francis Yacht Club. [Hu Min / en.expo2010.cn]

Expo Exhibitions May Go On Tour

12/3/09 – Officials from the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference’s Shanghai Committee suggested on Wednesday that Shanghai’s government should take some exhibitions on tour to other provinces and municipalities after the Expo. That would be a way to further promote the green technologies and materials shown and used during the Expo. The meeting was the Shanghai committee’s annual briefing for consulates and companies that have a presence in the city. “We have suggested the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination to carry out regular tests and appraisal on carbon emission reduction at the Expo site and announce the results and set special awards for low-carbon technology and its application in the Expo,” said Wu Jinlan from the CPPCC Shanghai Committee. [Cai Wenjun / Shanghai Daily]

Sequans Selected by China Mobile to Supply TD-LTE Chips

12/3/09 – 4G chipmaker Sequans Communications has been selected by China Mobile to provide chips and USB dongles for China Mobile’s TD-LTE (Long Term Evolution for TDD spectrum) network at the Expo, which China Mobile will operate as a demonstration network during the event. Sequans’ TD-LTE chip technology is powering the world’s first TD-LTE USB dongles that China Mobile will distribute to Expo visitors to experience the power of LTE first hand. “It is a great honor for Sequans to be selected by China Mobile and to be part of this exciting project,” said Georges Karam, Sequans CEO. “China Mobile’s network at the Shanghai Expo will attract the attention of the world and will demonstrate the power, speed, and ease-of-use provided to users by TD-LTE networks.” [Business Wire]