---An interview with Huang Yaocheng, deputy head of the Shanghai World Expo Bureau on the“Shanghai Week”at the Aichi World Expo

Written by Dai Qian

The“Shanghai Week”will be the finale for the China Pavilion between Sept. 19 and 25, the concluding week for the 2005 Aichi World Expo. Our correspondent interviewed Mr. Huang Yaocheng, deputy head of the Shanghai World Expo Bureau, on relevant topics concerning the“Shanghai Week.”Below is a transcript of the interview.

Q: What is the starting point for the program design of the“Shanghai Week”at the China Pavilion during the Aichi World Expo? What does Shanghai want to show to the World?

Huang: For Shanghai, the event of“Shanghai Week”means a good opportunity to exhibit the image of Shanghai and to promote the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, and we intend to adopt a multi-pronged approach to publicize Shanghai at the Aichi World Expo.

----Exhibiting the image of Shanghai and highlighting the theme of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo through alignment with environment.

---Initiating discussions and exchanges via forums on the theme of the Shanghai World Expo, its prospective impact on Shanghai as well as post-Expo effects on Shanghai.

----Enabling visitors to gain understanding of Shanghai’s features and the city’s intention to become an elite cultural city via cultural and folk performances.

----Promoting the joint development of the economies in Shanghai and Japan, and the non-government exchanges and friendships between local citizens via initiating communications between Chinese and Japanese entrepreneurs.

---- Gaining the attention of the public to the Shanghai World Expo from the Aichi Expo via the flag transfer ceremony at the conclusion of the Aichi World Expo.

----Organizing the press circle to cover various programs of the Shanghai Week to augment the effect of our publicity campaign and to discover what we should learn from the Aichi World Expo.

Q: Could you tell us the detailed programs of the Shanghai Week?

Huang: On Sept. 16, we will hold a press conference for the Shanghai Week in the China Pavilion at the Aichi Press Center.

The opening ceremony of the Shanghai Week will be held in the morning of Sept. 19.

On Sept. 21, we will move to Nagoya to launch economic and trade promotions, and there will also be a program for Chinese and Japanese children to interact on this day.

The Third International Forum of the Shanghai World Expo will be held on Sept. 23.

There are three events on Sept. 24—attending the BIE Day, the Tourism Promotional Conference, and the Sino-Japan Summit for Entrepreneurs to be held in Tokyo.

At the concluding ceremony of the Aichi World Expo on Sept. 25, the representative from Aichi, the host city of the 2005 World Expo, will hand over the BIE flag to the representative from Shanghai, the host city for the 2010 World Expo.

There are two primary tasks for the Shanghai Week: firstly, to publicize the image of Shanghai as the host city for the 2010 World Expo, secondly to promote the Shanghai World Expo.

Q: What has the Shanghai World Expo Bureau done in preparing the Shanghai Week?

Huang: The Shanghai World Expo will undertake the press conference, opening ceremony, forums, BIE Day, and BIE flag transfer ceremony at the Shanghai Week, while other activities are undertaken by members of the executive committee of the Shanghai World Expo, including the Publicity Department of the CPC Municipal Commission of Shanghai, Shanghai Tourism Committee, Shanghai Foreign Economic and Trade Commission, Shanghai World Expo Group, the Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal Government, and the Shanghai Media Group. Shanghai World Expo Bureau mainly plays the role of organization, coordination, and communication, and is responsible to advance all these activities.

Q: In what respects will the Shanghai Week promote the 2010 Shanghai World Expo?

Huang: The Shanghai Week will play four roles in promoting the 2010 World Expo. Firstly, it will enable visitors to understand the most fundamental concepts of the Shanghai World Expo, and further deepen their impression of the upcoming Shanghai World Expo. Secondly, it will exhibit the charm of Shanghai, winning more attention to Shanghai, the host city of the 2010 World Expo, from overseas visitors. Third, it will deepen our understanding of the philosophies in holding the Shanghai World Expo, and prompt further discussions and explorations in how to hold a successful World Expo in Shanghai. Fourth, it will publicize globally Shanghai’s preparation for the 2010 World Expo, boosting the confidence of overseas friends in the Shanghai World Expo.

The staging of the Shanghai Week sends a strong signal to the world that the city of Shanghai has the determination and capability to hold a World Expo in line with expectations, and what’s more, will surpass the expectations!

Wishing the Shanghai Week in the China Pavilion at the 2005 World Expo a complete success!

Editor’s note: The Shanghai Week will be held between Sept. 19 and 25.