Although the 2010 World Expo is still some two and half years away, the comprehensive event to be held in Shanghai has already begun reshaping the bustling city in varied aspects of people’s life. While big opportunities are looming up ahead for the city’s development, it has to overcome some challenges first so as to reap the rewards of success.
The year 2010 will witness the World Expo being held in a developing country for the first time.Huang Julin, a Shanghai resident, says he expects the event to bring some changes to his life.
“It will do good for our city’s development. Our living standards are surely going to improve. And I’m happy to see people from other countries come here as we open up to the world.”
The Shanghai World Expo Coordination Bureau has projected that over 70 million people from around the world will come to visit the expo between May and October in 2010, when it’s held in the eastern coastal city. That’s more than three times the total population of the municipality.
While that number is expected to set a record in the history of the World Expo, it also means a big challenge for the city.
“It’s really a big test for Shanghai, especially in terms of traffic. We’ll have opened five new rail lines connecting the World Expo Garden with the rest of the city by 2010,” Hong Hao, the head of the coordination bureau said. “Moreover, we are expanding the Pudong International Airport and the Hongqiao International Airport. By 2010, the annual passenger capacity of these two airports will surpass 80 million people.”
There are also a lot of tunnels, bridges and roads under construction to meet increasing transport demands.
As the city has started to refine its transport system management, Hong Hao expects traffic will not be a problem during the 2010 World Expo.
The hotel industry will be another sector to face challenges.
“During the peak period, the city will see a short supply of beds. The gap could reach at least 200,000. But we can make good use of the resources in neighboring cities such as Suzhou and Hangzhou that are only a one hour drive from Shanghai. These visitors will also boost local tourism in those cities. We may achieve a win-win result through cooperation.”
By Monday, 184 countries and international organizations had confirmed their participation for the expo.
China will offer 100 million US dollars to help some developing countries cover the costs incurred in attending the event.
(Source: en.beijing2008.cn)
