Eric Giuily, president and chief executive officer of Publicis Consultants Worldwide

Eric Giuily, president and chief executive officer of Publicis Consultants Worldwide
Expo 2010 will attract massive attention across the planet
World Expo 2010 has two most attractive points. The first one lies in its host city: Shanghai. There are huge interests, especially in Europe and the US, in China, Shanghai and their developments. When we were in charge of the China - France Cultural Years project from 2004 to 2006, we could only acknowledge the huge interest and coverage that Shanghai and China received from world media.
The second point is the theme of the Expo, "Better City, Better Life." It is a very important and interesting topic for most countries. Many countries are assessing and working on how to improve individual lives in cities.
In the context of the economic crisis, this theme is even more relevant as people might be putting less importance and interests on their financial lives, but more on the cities, their collective lives and daily lives.
For Shanghai Expo, Publicis Consultants was for example in charge of the press relations for Shanghai Expo during the Expo promotion in Zaragoza last September. We were also proud to have helped Shanghai for its bidding for the World Expo 2010 in Paris as early as 2001. We helped Shanghai to prepare its presentation and felt proud for the city’s success.
To be frank, up to now, the Expo 2010 may not be on top of the agenda of the world media, as the Olympic Games in Beijing last August did attract a lot of attention, and after the Olympics came the economic crisis. But I am positive that with the 2010 event coming closer, there will be greater and rising interests from foreign media. They will be quite interested in the theme of the Expo and how China and Shanghai will be able to develop such a huge project.

Introduction of Expo 2010 Shanghai China Forums

Forum is one of the most direct ways to explore the Expo theme and carry forward the spiritual heritage of the Expo.
World Expo 2010 Shanghai China will serve as a platform for the exchange and promotion of ideas, successful practices and technologies of "urban sustainable development" and discussion of practices and innovations in terms of urbanization, education and health care in rural areas of developing countries. This will include the forecast of challenges facing urban development and possible solutions.
Forums will be categorized into summit forums, theme forums and public forums.
summit forums will host heads of government, mayors of major metropolises, international celebrities and decision-makers in business, academic and cultural fields and mainstream media, where the concept of urban development and the relationship between livable cities, globalization and sustainable development will be discussed from a macro perspective. The theme is "Challenges in Global Urbanization" and the estimated attendees will reach 300 to 350 persons.
Theme forums are more technical and instructive. Theme forums will gather elites from all walks of life, to explore the urban system, structure and way of management of a modern city from a meso perspective and generate a group of ideas by drawing on their expertise. Theme forums will be held at least once per month during Expo Shanghai.
Public forums are special open forums. The forum intends to discuss, from a micro perspective, detailed issues for urban development and improve the participation awareness of the public through various events. The forum will be held for 100 times before and during the Expo.

Brief Introduction of World Expo Shanghai

World Expositions are galleries of human inspirations and thoughts. Since 1851 when the Great Exhibition of Industries of All Nations was held in London, the World Expositions have attained increasing prominence as grand events for economic, scientific, technological and cultural exchanges, serving as an important platform for displaying historical experience, exchanging innovative ideas, demonstrating esprit de corps and looking to the future.
With a long civilisation, China favours international exchange and loves world peace. China owes its successful bid for the World Exposition in 2010 to the international community's support for and confidence in its reform and opening-up. The Exposition will be the first registered World Exposition in a developing country, which gives expression to the expectations the world's people place on China's future development.
So what will Expo 2010 Shanghai China deliver to the world? There is no doubt the Chinese people will present to the world a successful, splendid and unforgettable exposition.
Expo 2010 Shanghai China will be a great event to explore the full potential of urban life in the 21st century and a significant period in urban evolution. Fifty-five percent of the world population is expected to live in cities by the year 2010. The prospect of future urban life, a subject of global interest, concerns all nations, developed or less developed, and their people. Being the first World Exposition on the theme of city, Exposition 2010 will attract governments and people from across the world, focusing on the theme "Better City, Better Life." For its 184 days, participants will display urban civilisation to the full extent, 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. They will learn how to create an eco-friendly society and maintain the sustainable development of human beings.
Expo 2010 Shanghai China will centre on innovation and interaction. Innovation is the soul, while cultural interaction is an important mission of the World Expositions. In the new era, Expo 2010 Shanghai China will contribute to human-centred development, scientific and technological innovation, cultural diversity and win-win cooperation for a better future, thus composing a melody with the key notes of highlighting innovation and interaction in the new century.
Expo 2010 Shanghai China will also be a grand international gathering. On the one hand, we shall endeavour to attract about 200 nations and international organisations to take part in the exhibition as well as 70 million visitors from home and abroad, ensuring the widest possible participation in the history of the World Expositions. On the other hand, we will put Expo 2010 Shanghai China in a global perspective and do our best to encourage the participation and gain the understanding and support of various countries and peoples, in order to turn Expo 2010 Shanghai China into a happy reunion of people from all over the world.
In addition, Expo 2010 Shanghai China will offer a wonderful opportunity for cross-culture dialogues. Before the conclusion of the Exposition, a "Shanghai Declaration" will be issued. This declaration, hopefully a milestone in the history of the World Expositions, will epitomise the insights to be offered by the participants and embody people's ideas for future cooperation and development and extensive common aspirations, thereby leaving a rich spiritual legacy of urban development to people throughout the world.
The Chinese Government will go to great lengths to make Expo 2010 Shanghai China a special event that carries on traditions and opens a new vista into the future. Our motto is: "Keeping in mind the next 60 years' development while preparing for the six months' Exposition." We count on the continuing attention, support and participation of all the peace-loving countries.