Macao at the 2010 World Expo Shanghai – Spirit of Cultures, Essence of Harmony

World Expo 2010 will be held from May 1 to October 31 in Shanghai China; Macao is preparing the construction of the Macao Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo exhibition site. Echoing the main theme of Shanghai Expo “Better City, Better Life”, the theme of Macao Pavilion is “Macao – Spirit of Cultures, Essence of Harmony”. Through displaying its essence of historical culture and harmony of socio-economic aspects, Macao will showcase its all-embracing and harmonizing development conception – the root inherited from the eastern and western cultural exchanges in Macao. Macao Pavilion will be situated in the south west of China Pavilion, and next to Hong Kong Pavilion. It will cover a site area of about 600 meter square, and an exhibition area of about 800 meter square. On behalf of the MSAR Government, Ms Ieong Pou Yee, Director of the Office for Preparation of Macao’s Participation in the Shanghai Expo, submitted Macao’s theme statement for its exhibition in the China Pavilion to the Shanghai Expo organizers on April 25 in Shanghai. Mr. Zhou Hanmin, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination and China’s representative to the BIE, received the statement. Mr. Zhou also congratulated Macao’s ‘Tak Seng On’ Pawnshop for being listed in the final list of Urban Best Practice Area. Macao’s tradition of cultural exchanges is an embodiment of harmony. After four hundred years of historical sedimentation and social integration, a cultural structure unique to Macao has evolved. Primarily a Chinese culture mingled with Portuguese culture, it is a multi-colors all-embracing culture that could be fully demonstrated in different aspects, such as architecture, religion, cuisines, languages and living habits. Due to the harmonizing spirit of humanism shared by the Macao people, foreign culture could be retained and inter-grew in Macao. It not only continues the centuries old integration of Chinese-western culture, but also respects and tolerates the different cultures of the time. In recent years, the economy of Macao has experienced dramatic growth. It has attracted a huge amount of international investments, plus related new industries, management philosophy, operating models and international networks to blossom in Macao. These new elements interact with the local economy and integrate into the unique corporate culture of Macao. It enriches the contents and gradation of the Macao economy and lends an impetus to Macao’s diversification of economic development. The sustainable development of Macao is based on these aspirations of harmony and tolerance. The all-embracing and harmonizing development concept has brought up today’s Macao. It was in the past, and it will be in the future. The Shanghai Expo is rich in contents. It includes demonstrations of national (regional) pavilions, corporate pavilions, Urban Best Practice Area and Online Expo. In addition, there will be a series of activities, carnivals, parades and different types of forums. Macao will actively participate in the events under practical conditions.
The MSAR Government attaches great importance to the work of Macao’s participation in the Shanghai Expo. Due to its broad scope, several MSAR governmental departments including Government Information Bureau, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Economic Services, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Cultural Affairs Bureau and Macao Government Tourist Office will be involved in the work, coordinated by the Office for Preparation of Macao’s Participation in the Shanghai Expo. The Macao delegation, led by Director Ieong Pou Yee, held a working meeting with the related units of the Shanghai Expo during its stay in Shanghai from April 23-25. At the meeting, Director Ieong Pou Yee briefed the progress of Macao’s preparation work for the Shanghai Expo. She also exchanged views with the officials on matters such as Macao’s participations in various activities, forums, Urban Best Practice Area, pavilion construction, Macao Promotion Week, Online Expo, and ticketing; as well as matters of concrete operation and cooperation. The delegation also visited the showroom of the Shanghai Expo and Shanghai Fashion Pavilion – the Shanghai Innovative Industry Site.
The Macao delegation was invited to banquet by Li Mingjun, Director of the Office of Overseas Chinese Affairs under Shanghai Municipal People’s Government. During the banquet, Director Li congratulated Macao’s ‘Tak Seng On’ Pawnshop for being listed in the final list of Urban Best Practice Area. The two sides also exchanged views on the coordinating matters on Macao’s participation in the Shanghai Expo. The Macao delegation includes Sum Kam San, Adviser of the Office of the Secretary for Economy and Finance, and representatives of Government Information Bureau, Economic Services and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute. To promote general participation in the construction of Macao Pavilion in the Shanghai Expo, the MSAR Government will conduct the “Macao Pavilion Concept Design Competition” in May. The winning entries will be used as blueprints for the architectural design of the Macao Pavilion. Office for Preparation of Macao’s Participation in the Shanghai Expo