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 The opening ceremony of the 2010 World Expo starts in Shanghai, east China, April 30, 2010.[Xinhua] |
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 Flag-bearers carrying flags of 246 participating countries and international organizations of the 2010 World Expo show up at the opening ceremony Friday night. [Photo/Xinhua]
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Chinese President Hu Jintao declared the opening of the World Expo 2010 in the Expo Culture Center in Shanghai Friday evening.
The six-month event of the Expo kicked off at 8:10pm with a lavish riverside display of fireworks and lights.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Republic of Korea President Lee Myung-bak were in attendance along with other world leaders, including Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
The Expo Park will officially open to the public Saturday and is expected to draw 70 million people to pavilions from almost 200 nations designed to reflect the urban sustainability theme of "Better City, Better Life."
It was the first time for the 159-year-old World Expo to be held in a developing country since the inaugural fair in London in 1851.
China has been preparing for the event since Shanghai won its bid to host the World Expo 2010 eight years ago. It is another grand event for the country after the successful Beijing Olympics in 2008.
From the United States to Republic of Korea, a total of 189 countries would present their best at the six-month event, which is expected to attract 70 million visitors from China and abroad and likely to be the largest World Expo ever.
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BIE President hopes Expo to contribute to 'social awakening' |
