SHANGHAI, May 1 – President Mwai Kibaki on Friday joined Heads of State, representatives of Royal Families and participating International Organizations for a colourful grand opening of the World Expo 2010, Shanghai at Shanghai International Conference Centre, China.
World Expo 2010 Shanghai China, where more than 192 world countries are participating, provides an opportunity to the world to explore the full potential of urban evolution considering that about fifty-five percent of the world’s population is in towns.
The President of the Peoples’ Republic of China Hu Jintao in his opening remarks said the over six billion people living in urban centres need to be guaranteed better life, security and harmony.
President Jintao said the World Expo being held in China, a developing country for the first time, will present to the world a country with a five thousand year civilization that is enjoying fast development through reform and will serve as a bridge for the country to learn from the good experience of other countries.
Earlier, President Jintao hosted a welcoming dinner of the Expo 2010 Shanghai for President Kibaki and other visiting Heads of State and Government.
The Chinese President said his country was ready to establish friendly relations with all countries on the basis of the five principals of peaceful coexistence for a common posterity.
World Expos are held after every five years with mini Expos after every two years. The last Expo was held in Aichi, Japan in 2005 where 120 countries, Kenya included, participated.
In attendance was Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Cabinet ministers Amos Kimunya, Fred Gumo, Moses Wetangula and John Munyes.
