German ambassador: City to become central point of life in future

The city will become the central point of our life in future, and the development of future cities all depends on human beings' progress, German ambassador to China Michael Schaefer said at a press conference in Beijing yesterday.


How to build a city with inside harmony? Schaefer quoted a question which is closely linked to the theme of German Pavilion - "Balancity".


The key factors of building future city consist of natural ecological balance, social stability and all-around sustainable development, Schaefer said at a press conference briefing on Germany's participant in the Shanghai Expo 2010.


The 6,000-square-meter structure will be Germany's largest Pavilion at any Expo, Schafer said, and around 70 million visitors are expected during the whole Expo.


"This magnificent structure impressed me at the first sight." Schaefer added.


Schaefer also emphasized the meaning of "balancity" to the media: a marriage of the terms "balance" and "city"– is Germany's interpretation of the Expo theme: "Better City, Better Life".


It means an amazing city in balance between renewal and preservation, innovation and tradition, urbanity and nature, society and its individuals, work and recreation, and finally, between globalization and national identity.


This central idea can be directly experienced by visitors everywhere in the German Pavilion. Every visitor brings vigor to the "banlancity". Once entering the pavilion, they will become an indivisible part of the structure.


Taking part in the Shanghai Expo will be a good chance to express itself for Germany, it will be presenting itself as a multifaceted nation and an innovative, forward-looking country that also places great value on the preservation of its roots and heritage.


Despite the worldwide global crisis, Germany insisted on attending the Shanghai Expo. Schaefer believes that the relationship between China and Germany will become tighter after the Shanghai Expo.


"China and Germany are always important partners for long time," Schaefer said, "Except for the increasing mutual cooperation on trades and technique, the exchanges between two countries also expand onto culture and daily life."


China is under the process of modernization and urbanization and also has to face various challenges and many tough problems. "Germany had experienced the transformation of heavy-industrial society. We would like to share our experiences to Chinese people." Schaeffer said.


At present, German and China government are promoting a friendly cooperation program, named "Germany and China - Moving Ahead Together".


This is a series of events organized by the Federal Republic of Germany in China under the patronage of German President Horst K?hler and Chinese President Hu Jintao.


Under the aegis of the Federal Foreign Office, the aim of this project is to promote mutual understanding as the basis for successful cooperation and to reinforce the image of Germany as a future-oriented, innovative nation.


"It is a great achievement of German-Sino cooperation. This project will attract approximately 1.3 million participants. Through holding seminars and cultural exhibitions, we hope to see more and more Chinese to understand the culture and some other aspects of Germany." Schaefer said.


Germany will promote the ideal concept of future city and its successful experiences on urban redevelopment to the world at Shanghai Expo. It also would like to exchange advantageous thoughts with other countries.


To the rapid urbanization of Chinese cities, Schaeffer made several suggestions: "Now China is entering a very decisive phase of its organization. In the next 50 years, at least 200 million people are going to be moving from the countryside into the big cities, which will pose enormous challenges for all of your cities."


"My suggestion is to learn from the negative experiences, which we have had in our countries in the last century, avoid the mistakes that we have made; learn from our experiences and take the best practices, take the good concepts and try to bring it to balance the needs of dynamic economy," Schaeffer said during the interview with Xinhuanet.


"And on the other hand on balanced ecology, which means the environment is presenting to every human being a framework, in which he or she or children, tomorrow our grandchildren can have a safe, positive life. That is the most important experience which we would like to relate," Schaeffer added.