Shanghai has launched a revamped Website that provides a wealth
of new information on the 2010 World Expo.
Starting yesterday, visitors to www.expo2010china.com gained
access to an upgraded information platform that tracks the progress
of the planning for the event while highlighting important pieces
of World Expo history.
The site's main improvements are a collection of downloads,
links and other sources of information, including project status,
construction costs, the countries that have committed to attend so
far and the latest expo news from the city and the Bureau of
International Exhibitions, the expo's oversight agency.
The Website has three versions: simplified Chinese, traditional
Chinese and English.
Shanghai Daily provides content and design work for the English
version of the site.
"The new version of the Website takes full account of the needs
of Web users. It is a source of authoritative, accurate and timely
information relating to the expo," the Bureau of the Shanghai World
Expo Coordination said in a statement yesterday.
Responding to Western audience research findings, the English
version highlights foreign involvement in the preparations for the
event.
The current focus is on attracting participants from overseas.
Website users are able to view the progress of the recruitment
process through an interactive map.
So far, 74 countries and international organizations have
committed to participating in World Expo 2010 Shanghai, which aims
to attract more than 200 nations and at least 70 million
visitors.
Zambia, Malaysia, Luxembourg, Namibia and Laos, along with the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change were the
latest nations and groups to confirm they will be taking part in
the event.
In London yesterday, Shanghai Vice Mayor Yang Xiong, a member of
the expo's organizing committee, met with Vincente Loscertales, the
BIE's secretary-general, to discuss the progress of expo
planning.
During their three-hour session, they talked about a plan for an
"Urban Experimental Zone" that will feature cities that have
managed to harmonize their historical sites with modern life, urban
areas that have received United Nations awards for livability and
cities that have had outstanding success in solving energy and
security problems.
The theme of the 2010 event is "Better city, better life."
(Shanghai Daily September 12, 2006)