Chen Liangyu, politburo member of the CPC Central Committee; first Vice Chairperson of the Organizing Committee for Shanghai 2010 World Expo, and Secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee; Wu Jianmin, Chairperson of BIE; Taizo Watanabe, Commissioner General of the Japan Association for the 2005 World Expositions; Shoichiro Toyoda, Chairperson of the Japan Association for the 2005 World Expositions; and Wang Yi, Chinese Ambassador to Japan were presented at the ceremony and delivered speeches. Vincente Gonzalez Loscertales, Secretary-General of the BIE attended the forum and made the closing address.

Chen Liangyu emphasized, in his speech, the important idea put forward by the Chinese government, on the basis of the practical experiences we have gained from more than 20 years of reform and opening up and from the modernization drive. The important idea is to take the view of human-centered, inclusive, balanced, and sustainable development as an important strategic thinking to guide future development, and to adhere to a civilized path of development with focus on production and growth, prosperity and sound ecology and realize the balanced harmony of the natural ecological system and the social economic system so as to leave sufficient resources and space for the development of our future generations.

In his speech, Chen Liangyu also expressed his congratulations to the forum and welcomed guests from different countries. Chen said,“Distance matters not because a close friend afar brings distance near”. He said the Shanghai Government and the BIE had already previously held two forums for Shanghai 2010 World Expo successfully. At the past two forums, speakers associated with the World Expo each aired his/her own views and put forward many constructive ideas, from which we gained a lot of knowledge for organizing the World Expo. The forums also helped to increase our confidence in holding the Shanghai 2010 World Expo. He said the title of this forum,“World Expo and Sustainable Development”, showed the continuity of the World Expo cause. He also stated that this forum provided us with a very good chance to learn directly from the Aichi Expo. He said that it was his belief that this forum would be very fruitful.

Chen Liangyu focused on the theme of the Shanghai 2010 World Expo,“Better City, Better Life”. In 2010, governments and guests of different countries all over the world will be gathering in Shanghai and carrying out exhibitions and discussions centered on this theme, exploring new designs and models for housing, living and working in the new century and presenting impressive illustrations of an ecologically harmonious society as well as sustainable development.