By Zhang Ruyun

As Member of the Shanghai 2010 World Expo Organizing Committee, Commissioner General for Shanghai Expo, Hua Junduo, was truly in a busy schedule at the First Participants Meeting of the World Expo. A total of 288 representatives from 115 countries and 12 international organizations attended the meeting. During the meeting's short break, Hua Junduo accepted our interview and explained the great interest in the event and preparatory work relating to inviting foreign participants. Hua saw a promising future for Expo Shanghai because it has attracted great global attention. He believed that the active attendance of those participants to discuss the Expo preparations is a promising sign for Expo's final success.

Preparatory Work in Full Swing

According to Hua Junduo, as a charming city with enormous attraction, Shanghai is the ideal choice for Expo 2010. During the past ten years, the rapid development of China, its opening-up policy and its promising future has been recognized by the world. Shanghai, is at the forefront of the opening-up trend, and maintained more than 10 percent growth rate in economy year by year. Shanghai is cosen to be the host city because the international community has seen the prospect of China's future development through Shanghai, a silhouette of the dramatically changing China.

Hua Junduo said in the interview:"We appreciate the trusts from the international community. Meanwhile, we will return it with the hosting of a successful, splendid and memorable World Expo."

According to Hua, in recent years, under the leadership of the National Organizing Committee and Executive Committee, and with the supervision and help from the Bureau of International Expositions, the organizer of Expo Shanghai has completed the legal procedures of application for registration so far. This has substantially pushed forward the relocation, planning and construction process, conducted the theme development, made an orderly progress in the programs of communication and promotion as well as market development, and elaborated the operation plan with support arrangements in place. We should say that, all the preparatory work is going on in a smoothly and progressively manner as planned.

Positive Signs in Attracting International Participants

At the same time, smooth progress has also been made in the campaign for attracting international participants. The invitation to Expo 2010 Shanghai World Expo has been positively responded by the international community since it was sent out in March 2006. A total of 94 countries and international organizations had officially accepted the invitation and confirmed their participation when the First Participants Meeting was held. Among them, representatives from 66 countries and 5 international organizations have attended this meeting, 12 countries have appointed their Commissioners General of Section, 24 countries and international organizations have designated project leading institutions and responsible authorities., while 16 countries have sent technical teams to China to discuss and communicate with the Expo Organizer on a wide range of issues related to their participation.

Hua Junduo believed that three reasons explain the great interest in the event: First, the rapid development of China and its opening-up policy have been recognized by the world. Second, the theme "Better City, Better Life" appeals to all nations, no matter whether they are developed or developing countries. Third, the Chinese Communist Party and China's Central Government have given full support to the event.

Since Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao sent the invitation letters to those countries with foreign relations with China in February 22, the task of promoting the Expo Shanghai had become an important topic for the Chinese embassies globally when conducting diplomatic activities. Thanks to their efforts, we have received great response from our foreign friends to attend the First Participants Meeting.

When asked about the preparation work in attracting international participants, Hua Junduo said: "Our goal in 2007 is to attract 60 more countries and international organizations as our participants. It is going to be a tough work to do, since we need to do a lot. In 2006, many countries have actively responded to our invitation while some of the invited ones have not confirmed yet, partly due to some practical difficulties such as government re-election, civil war or economic problems. For those counties, sufficient negotiation is needed to overcome the difficulties."

Host the Event with Global Participations

Hua Junduo described this meeting vividly as a "communication conference." Until the World Expo2010 is held, an annual communication conference like this is a must in enhancing mutual-understanding among the organizers and participants. Topics include, the Expo venue situation, the venue's selection and renovation, Shanghai's construction standards, related customs procedures, visa and theme illustration.

"From now on, the participants meeting will be held annually until 2009, when it will be switched into a meeting among the governments' representatives. At that time, in addition to the representative from China, more than 100 commissioners general will attend the meeting. We will gather all the general commissioners to discuss Expo-related issues, and this meeting is the so called 'Governments' Commissioners Meeting'. The meeting we are undergoing right now is a participants' meeting, because some of the countries haven't finished their procedures when appointing an official commissioner-general. Hopefully in 2009, we will change the Participants Meeting to Commissioners' Meeting."

Hua Junduo said: "As Commissioner General for Shanghai Expo, I will keep in close contact with all the participants and try the best to offer my assistance with their participation matters. At this moment, I also want to extend my thanks to all the invited countries and international organizations. Meanwhile, I also hope that participating nations will appoint their Commissioners General of Section as soon as possible so that we can promptly make decisions on related participation matters for the coming years through a closer communication and consultation."