Cities from across the globe are vying to bring a slice of their
local life to the 2010 Shanghai Expo.
A 15-hectare zone, called the Urban Best Practices Area has been
set aside at the Expo, where, for the first time in the event's
history, a number of cities will show off cutting-edge architecture
and design concepts.
The Bureau of Shanghai Expo Coordination announced on Friday
that the selection process for cities vying to take part would be
extended by a further five months to January 31 next year.
So far, 13 cities, including Liverpool, Zurich, Madrid and Sao
Paulo, have filed formal applications to take part in the zone on
the west bank of the Huangpu River, said the bureau.
In addition, a further 58 cities or regions have approached the
organizer for information and 26 have held discussions with Expo
organizers, the bureau said.
Selected cities will create blocks including real urban scenes
with housing, streets and waterways.
The cities will also show how they are striving to protect
historically important architecture and safeguard the
environment.
Zhou Hanmin, deputy director of the coordination bureau, said
that cities showing how they are using clean energy or working to
create a more comfortable living environment may be preferred.
"I believe the development of Shanghai exactly reflects the
transition from the use of traditional energy to environmentally
friendly energy, and the conservation of local styles in
traditional buildings while making them more comfortable to live
in," he said.
An international selection committee will review all the
proposals and have the final say, but the bureau did not say when
the finalists would be announced.
A total of 163 countries and international organizations have so
far confirmed their participation in the 2010 Expo.
(China Daily September 1, 2007)
