Your Excellency, Ambassador HUA Junduo, Commissioner General, World EXPO 2010 Shanghai, China
Mr. HONG Hao, Director-General of the Coordination Bureau of World EXPO 2010 Shanghai, China
Mr. ZHOU Hanmin, Deputy Director-General of the Coordination Bureau World Expo 2010 Shanghai, China
Distinguished Representatives of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE)
Representatives of the Participating Countries in World EXPO 2010 Shanghai
Representatives of the Media
Other distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
It is an honour and pleasure for me to be granted this opportunity to address you on this occasion which marks the formal confirmation of the participation of the countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in World EXPO 2010, which will be held in this great city of Shanghai.
It is doubly so, as in addressing you today, I represent a voice from the wider Americas Region as well as from the International Organisations.
The pleasure and honour is of special significance as this is my first visit to China – a most spectacular country with a remarkable history and impressive achievements. These attributes have been evident in everything I have had the privilege to experience since my arrival.
From the Great Wall and Olympic Complex, most notably including the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, in Beijing to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the super-rapid Maglev Train in Shanghai, the sights have been virtually indescribable.
Nowhere that I have visited in my many years, brings together ancient and modern civilizations in as seamless a manner as this great country.
Indeed, if we are to judge by the enormous successes of the recently concluded Olympic Games in Beijing and the launch of spaceship SHENZOU-7 with its three taikonauts , there can be no doubt that EXPO 2010 will be an equally outstanding achievement – yet another shining demonstration of China’s leadership in the Twenty-first Century.
Participation by Caribbean Community countries in World EXPO 2010 will take the form of a Joint Caribbean Community Pavilion with individual country stands that will reflect the distinct characteristics and identity of each participating country. In keeping with recent practice, the CARICOM Secretariat, which I have the honour to lead, has been granted the special privilege of coordinating the preparations for the joint participation and management of the Pavilion during the World Exposition.
Together with representatives from the participating Caribbean Community countries, the Staff of the Secretariat will draw on the successes of our Region’s participation in EXPO 2000 in Hannover, Germany, and in EXPO Zaragoza, Spain in 2008, to bring to World EXPO 2010 here in Shanghai, the vitality, art, culture, cuisine and most of all, the unique Caribbean way of life for the world to experience.
To date (and I stress this is only to date), ten Member States of the Caribbean Community have confirmed their participation in World EXPO 2010, Shanghai. They are: Antigua and Barbuda; The Bahamas; Barbados; Dominica; Grenada; Guyana; Haiti; Jamaica; Suriname; and Trinidad and Tobago.
The theme for World EXPO 2010, Shanghai – Better City, Better Life – is particularly relevant as our Caribbean Community as we seek to enhance the physical infrastructure of our cities so that our citizens may enjoy a better quality of life.
The drift from our rural to our urban centres by significant numbers of our population makes it imperative that issues such as increased green open spaces, improved refuse collection, efficient water management, reliable and affordable electricity, less congested streets and highways, reduced noise pollution and environmental degradation are addressed so as to ensure an enhanced quality of life. Our citizens are entitled to nothing less.
World EXPO 2010 provides an opportunity for our countries to demonstrate some of the responses being developed to these various challenges. The CARICOM Secretariat, which will also be participating within the Joint Pavilion, will focus on the contribution being made to meeting those challenges through the collective approach of our regional integration process.
We are confident that valuable lessons will also be learnt from our interactions with the record number of participants from around the world that will be present at the Exposition, as regards their experiences and best practices in addressing these challenges.
Participation in World Expo 2010 by many countries, including those of the Caribbean Community and the CARICOM Secretariat is being made possible through the generosity of the Government of China and the Organisers of World EXPO 2010 Shanghai.
As the Commissioner-General for the Caribbean Community, I wish to express on behalf of all of our participating countries and on behalf of the CARICOM Secretariat, our deepest appreciation for the very generous assistance being provided.
This assistance will enable the countries of the Caribbean Community and our integration movement to be showcased as never before. Our appreciation is heightened in the light of the tremendous effort and sacrifice that must be required by the Government and people of China to provide the level of assistance being extended, not only to the Caribbean, but to developing countries and organizations such as the CARICOM Secretariat, at this time of global economic downturn.
Your Excellencies, Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to reiterate that World EXPO 2010 Shanghai presents a marvellous opportunity for the Caribbean Community to showcase not only its diverse culture but also its products and services, to China and to the millions expected to visit Shanghai over the six-month duration of the World Exposition.
China and the rest of World has already had a glimpse of what the Caribbean Community can achieve with the tremendous impression we created in Beijing at the Olympics, led by the irrepressible Usain Bolt. I am confident that we will create another great impression in 2010, this time at the World Exposition in Shanghai.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I close by extending to the Government of the People’s Republic of China, to the Coordinating Bureau and staff of World EXPO 2010 Shanghai and to the people of the great City, best wishes on behalf of the Governments and Peoples of the participating countries for resounding success in World Expo 2010 Shanghai. These wishes are extended particularly from those countries of the wider Americas Region, especially those of the Caribbean Community and from the Regional Organisations, especially my own Organisation, the CARICOM Secretariat.
As today we sign the Leading Participation Agreement, we look forward to returning to Shanghai to contribute to and witness what will be a wonderful spectacle which will open its doors and welcome the world on 1 May 2010.
I thank you, Xie Xie
