HU JINTAO ANNOUNCES OPENING OF EXPO-2010 IN SHANGHAI

RIA Novosti
April 30, 2010
SHANGHAI

Chinese leader Hu Jintao officially announced the opening of the 2010
World Expo in Shanghai on Friday.

"I pronounce the Expo-2010 in Shanghai as open," Hu Jintao told 8,000
people at the official opening ceremony at the Expo Cultural Center.

The 2010 World Expo will be held in Shanghai from May 1 to October 31,
2010. Up to 70 million people are expected to visit the city for the
event, which has seen investment of up to $4 billion.

The opening ceremony began with a performance of a song dedicated to
the Expo-2010 by Chinese Hollywood star Jackie Chan.

The two hour ceremony ended with fireworks, allegedly more spectacular
than those set off during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer
Olympic Games in Beijing.

The opening ceremony was attended by French President Nicolas Sarkozy
and his wife, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso,
the presidents of Armenia and Malta and representatives from many
other countries. Russia was represented by Industry and Trade Minister
Viktor Khristenko.

More than 190 countries will participate in Expo and 49 have
constructed their own pavilions.

Russia constructed a pavilion at the exhibition for the first time
in 30 years. The sun-shaped pavilion comprises 12 white-and-gold
towers symbolizing the 12 months of the year, and occupies an area
of 6,000 square meters. It will showcase Russia’s recent scientific
and economic development and offer a diverse cultural program.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress