Shanghai EXPO ends October 31, as world salutes the greatest and most expensive ever.exhibition
This is not about the mudslides miseries that have, once again, drawn world attention to China, the largest and most populous nation on earth (2010 population estimates are 1.33 billion people). Nor is it about the heavy, torrential rains in its provinces of Gansu, Sichuan, and Shaanxi, that have compounded the flooding and mudslides which have claimed more than 1500 lives and trapped thousands.
It is also not about survivors recalling the trauma they suffered and their near-death encounters.
On the contrary, what you are about to read is not a morbid story. It is a piece of sweet-bitter news coming straight from Shanghai, the most populous city in China and one of the most populous in the world, noted for its tourism, textile, and fishing industries. Before the current flooding, and since the 2008 Olympic Games, the world somewhat returned to the country via the ongoing international exhibition tagged EXPO 2010.
The exhibition, which opened on May 1, 2010, in Shanghai, and will run till October 31, this year, has Nigeria participating.
Chair of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola, three other members of the commission, and this writer attended the EXPO during a recent visit to the country on the invitation of the Chinese government. The invitation was to enable us see the multi-faceted approaches adopted by the Chinese government in its fight against corruption.
Predictably, the EXPO had publicity drought in the West, but the Eastern media was awash with the spectacular display of culture, technologyg and arts by virtually all countries of the world. The spectacular event, which flagged off on China’s Labour Day, was part of the programmes lined up for our delegation.
The sweet
One thing that even casual observers would not miss is the magnetic pull with which the exhibition has drawn the world closer to China, a country once known as the Middle Kingdom. Over 250 countries and international organisations are participating in the EXPO. The participating countries have erected stunning architectural pavilions.
A dazzling emblazoned slogan captioned ‘Better City, Better Life’, welcomes the visitor to the EXPO grounds. The first attraction is the iconic China pavilion, a magnificent structure draped in red cloth.
The EXPO sits elegantly along the Huangpu River, making the pavilions look like they would fly away any moment. The rectangular 400 metre-long EXPO centre along the river, our guide told us, has become the longest structure on the waterway.
We were taken round the Chinese pavilion where we saw, in brief, the evolution of China from a poverty stricken nation to an opulently rich country. There were also, on display, animated ways of the life of Chinese citizens, from the Stone Age to the age of amazing technological breakthroughs.
Sitting on six flower-like valleys, the EXPO Boulevard was simply breathtaking. The entrance can be seen from both the Huangpu River and Hongshan Road to the north of the EXPO site.
That’s not all. Visitors to Shanghai may choke in pleasure at the sheer majesty and splendour of the city’s night skyline. As part of the attraction to visitors, nightlife in the city is something else. Climb a tower or a high-rise building in Shanghai and watch a city that sprawls before you like the galaxy and its constellation of stars from an astronomer’s prism. You will see a city lit up in exotic light, giving you an animated sensation of a real paradise on earth. Every building, bridge, park, bus, except, of course, human beings, are fitted with multicolour bulbs synchronising the glow.
In the space pavilion, visitors sit in a cockpit and “pilot” a plane in a virtual-reality exhibition show. They will then embark on a joyous journey filled with discovery and inspiration in the Space Home Pavilion.
The information and communication pavilions take visitors on a fun, interactive journey exploring cutting edge information technologies.
China’s shipbuilding corporations’ pavilion sits pretty in a renovated old factory and adds a new shape to the former plant. Visitors can preview new modes of shipping and also experience life in the future water-world.
The Israeli pavilion resembles a blue and white seashell, while that of the Japanese pavilion is draped in purple cloth, looking like a balloon on the ground. Two distinctive structures are the Pakistan and Oman pavilions, both inspired by famous historic structures. The Saudi Arabic pavilion has the shape of a huge boat.
The bitter
But here now is the bitter side of the story. The Nigerian pavilion does not have much to show the world. It is a matchbox shape and during the time we were there, the organisers had little or nothing to showcase about Nigeria, despite our huge potentials and the great things happening in the country.
Indeed, tongues are now wagging in Abuja that the millions of naira committed by Nigeria to the EXPO have gone down the drain. Our pavilion is so poor that it ranks among the worst. This prompts the question: who is actually in charge?
To be able to see all the pavilions, a visitor needs at least four full days! We could only see a few. But the few were very illuminating.
Our guide at the EXPO 2010 told us that it would be a great venture to explore the full potential of urban life in the 21st century and a significant period in urban evolution.
He said for the period of the EXPO, which is 184 days, participants would display urban civilization to the full, exchange their experiences of urban development, disseminate advanced notions on cities, and explore new approaches to human habitat, lifestyle, and working conditions in the new century.
Not only that, he also said visitors would learn how to create an eco-friendly society and maintain the sustainable development of human beings. The organisers of EXPO 2010 have attracted over 200 nations and hope to attract over 100 million visitors before it ends on October 31.
The EXPO is the first registered world exposition in a developing country.
By Folu Olamiti
Olamiti is media consultant to the ICPC.
Source: NEXT
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