Preparation for Expo proceeds into operation phase

PARIS: The preparation for the 2010 Shanghai Expo has proceeded into exhibits arrangements and service operation as site constructions are mostly completed, China's representatives of Executive Committee of the Shanghai Expo announced here Tuesday in its last report of progress in the 146th General Assembly of the Bureau of International Exhibition (BIE).

With less than six months ahead of the 2010 Shanghai Expo, all preparation on construction and operation are underway smoothly as scheduled, said Yang Xiong, the deputy director of the executive committee for Shanghai Expo and vice mayor of Shanghai.

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Transportation infrastructures inside and outside the Expo site will basically finished by the year end and put into use by the end of next March. Supporting public utilities such as medical treatment, drinking water and communication are also steadily in progress, the report said.

Five permanent structures, namely China Pavilion, Performance Center, Expo Center Theme Pavilion and Expo Boulevard will be completed by the year ends. Twenty-six out of the 42 self-built pavilions of foreign participants have completed their structure and 37 out of 42 rented pavilions were accomplished. All the 11 joint pavilions have been completed by now.

By December 1, over 3,400 rooms in apartments in the Expo Village and service apartments in the surrounding areas will be put into service, and the number will reach 6,700 at the end of the year and 7,100 by the end of next March, the report said.

"As major parts of the construction work has finished, we have shifted our focus to operation, such as service, exhibits arrangement and further design and organization of events and forums," Yang told Xinhua.

During the grand cultural events, about 20,000 sessions of various performances will be staged. To date, 200 countries and international organizations have submitted application for National Day and Honor Day events, totaling 633 performances.

The Expo is not only a carnival for China, but also a showcase for worldwide extraordinary culture and innovations. "The success of World Expo 2010 is bound to help rebuild the global confidence in economic development, and further promote international exchange and cooperation," said Wang Jinzhen, chief delegate of China to the BIE.

To provide better service for foreign participants, four management departments have formed with professionals and experts to be deployed in different zones to improve on-spot service.

Additionally, during the Expo, about 200,000 volunteers selected from current 500,000 applications will offer services in the sites, on city streets, at airports and docks for visitors from across the world.

Chinese delegation issued invitation to friends all over the world at the assembly.

"I think their preparations (for the Shanghai Expo) are progressing very well," Secretary General of the BIE Vicente Loscertales told Xinhua. "The thing we have to do is to finish the preparation on time and open our doors on May 1 to the whole world, in which I have total and utter confidence."