Countdown starts for Shanghai Expo

By Hu Yinan (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-02 10:51

One year and counting.

Hong Kong and Hollywood film legend Jackie Chan, one of the promotion ambassadors for the Shanghai 2010 World Expo, performs during the ceremony to unveil the one-year countdown clock in Beijing's Tian'anmen Square on Friday. [Yang Shizhong]

The clock marking the dwindling days until the Shanghai World Expo kicks off was put into motion at Tian'anmen Square on Friday by top legislator Wu Bangguo.

Wu, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, called the expo "a big aspiration for all Chinese people," and said the government will spare no effort in preparations for the gala, which kicks off May 1 next year.

Wu said he looks forward to experiencing technological advances and sharing achievements of human civilization with friends from across the world.

Pavel Antonin Stehlik, the Czech commissioner general to the Shanghai World Expo, earlier said the event "is going to become a symbol of the worldwide economic revival".

Masood Khan, Pakistan's ambassador to China and the country's expo commissioner general, said he believed the gala itself is a "confidence building measure and indeed a stimulus package for the world economy" currently buffeted by a financial crisis.

"Shanghai's expo will help us look beyond the international financial crisis and prepare for better, robust economies," Khan said.

China became the first developing country to host the World Expo when Shanghai won the bid in December 2002 with a "better city, better life" theme.

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The expo, China's next global party after last summer's Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, runs from May 1 to Oct 31, 2010.

Altogether 236 countries and international organizations have confirmed attendance to the event, according to organizers.

Friday marked the one-year countdown to the event, which is expected to draw 70 million visitors, 5 percent of whom will be from abroad.

Of the participating countries, 50 are from Africa, 33 from America, 45 from Europe, 45 from Asia and 16 from Oceania.

The large gathering will push Shanghai past Hannover, Germany, as the host of the biggest world expo ever.

The Hannover 2000 drew 155 countries and 17 international organizations.

Xinhua contributed to the story