China and the World Expos

2019-08-21 15:35:00 source：Expo China Pavilion

Authorized by the State Council, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT)participated inthe 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville, the United States, for the first time. Since then, the organizers of World Expos have all invited China to attend. By the end of 2012, the CCPIT had taken part in 14 World Expos on behalf of China, showing the country's long history and culture to the world and presenting its new image of reform and opening up.

The CCPIT has also helped other relevant domestic departments to organizeand attend some A1International Horticultural Expositions.

The World Expo is a large-scale international exhibition,showing achievements of mankind in the social, economic, cultural, scientific and technological fields. Since the first World Expo in 1851, more than 40 expositions have been held. Excluding the Kunming International Horticultural Exposition in China, the Quebec International Horticultural Exhibition in Canada, and the Osaka Horticultural Expo in Japan (specialized), China has participated in 10 World Expos since 1982.

The 1982 World's Fair,with the theme of"Energy Turns the World," was held in Knoxville, Tennesseefrom May 1 to Oct. 31. The China Pavilion displayed solar water heaters, solar cookers, solar beacon lights, solar electric fences, biogas utilization and various handicrafts with Chinese ethnic characteristics.

The 1984 World Expo, with the theme of"The World of Rivers—Fresh Water as a Source of Life," was held in New Orleans, Louisiana, the U.S., from May 12 to Nov. 11. The China Pavilion showcased the country’s practice in the development of water resources in ancient and modern times withphotos, replicas and models. Chinese light industrial products, textiles, handicrafts, chimes and steles of the Qin Dynasty (221-207 B.C.), and othercultural relics were also displayed.

The Expo 1985, themed"Dwellings and Surroundings—Science and Technology for Man at Home," was held in Tsukuba, Japan.China was invited to participate in it.

The Expo 1986, with the theme of"World in Motion—World in Touch," was held in Vancouver, Canada, from May 2 to Oct. 13. Transportation and communication tools were displayed at the Expo, and China was also invited to attend.

The Expo 1988, with the theme of"Leisure in the Age of Technology," was held in Brisbane, Australia,from April 30 to Oct. 30. A 360-degree film titled"A Glimpse of China" was presented at the China Pavilion and got quite popular. The China Pavilion was alsoawardedthe Five-Star Pavilion and the best one at the Expo,the highest honor China had received since its participation.

The China Pavilion at the Expo 2010 Shanghai

In 1992, China attended the World Expo themed"Christopher Columbus—the Ship and the Sea" in Genoa, Italy.

Also in the same year, the World Expo themed"The Age of Discovery" was held in Seville, Spain, from April 20 to Oct. 12. The China Pavilion displayedthe four great inventions of ancient China, modern high-tech achievements, garden architectural art and handicrafts, and was awarded the Five-Star Pavilion.

The Expo 1993, with the theme of"The Challenge of a New Road of Development,"openedin Daejeon, the Republic of Korea, on Aug. 6. The China Pavilion displayedChinese aerospace science and technology, theThree Gorges Water Conservancy Project, traditional Chinese culture and ethnic crafts, and was named as one of the five best pavilions.

The Expo 1998, with the theme of"The Oceans: A Heritage for the Future," was held in Lisbon, Portugal, from May 21 to Sept. 30. The China Pavilion comprised four sections, that is, marine development and utilization, the Maritime Silk Road, satellite launch shows and circular-screen movies.

The Expo 2000, with the theme of"Humankind-Nature-Technology: A New World Arising," was held in Hanover, Germany, from May 31 to Oct. 31. The China Pavilion attracteda large number of visitors from all over the world with its unique exterior decoration and rich exhibitions. It receivednearly 30,000 visitorseveryday, accounting for about one quarter of the total visitors to the Expo.

In 2005, China participated in the World Expo themed"Nature's Wisdom" in Aichi, Japan. At that Expo, the China Pavilion was the largest foreign one.

In 2008, China participated in the World Expo themed"Water and Sustainable Development" in Zaragoza, Spain.

In 2010, China successfully hosted the World Expo themed"Better City, Better Life" in Shanghai. It isthe first comprehensiveworldexpositionheld in China, and also the largest-scale and longest-running international event held in China since the founding of the People's Republic of China.The Expo was attended by246 countries and international organizations,and had receivedmore than 73 million visitors in 184 days, a record high in the World Expo history.

At the Expo 2012 Yeosu, themed"The Living Ocean and Coast," the China Pavilion stood out from more than 100 exhibitors and won agoldaward for itscreativedisplay, the highest award of the Expo. This was the first time that the China Pavilion had won an award, and also the highest one, on the stage of the World Expos since China's participation in 1982 and the resumption of the award system by the Bureau International des Expositions in 2005.