Reciprocal Reception of 2010 Shanghai World Expo DEVNET Pavilion Hit Great Success

On April 27th, 2009, a refreshing reciprocal reception was held by International Development Information Network Association Pavilion of Expo 2010 (DEVNET Pavilion) in Shanghai JC Mandarin, with the purpose of extending their gratitude for the support and encourage from all social sectors over the time of DEVNET Pavilion preparatory stage. General Director of International Development Information Network (DEVNET) Mr. Daniel Barrios, Mr. Gao Guoqiang, director of DEVNET Association Affairs Coordination Bureau&general representative of Shanghai 2010 World Expo DEVNET Pavilion and Mr. Li Shien, vice director of DEVNET Bureau and executive director of DEVNET Pavilion attended the reception.

The reception was started with the promotion vedio made for the United Nations “Millennium Development Goals” and Special Day of DEVNET Pavilion---September 8th, 2010. The accurate data and vivid pictures keeps closely to the eight development goals, which deeply touched everyone at present. Finally this vedio was highly evaluated by the audience.

First of all, Mr. Gao Guoqiang expressed his gratitude on behalf of DEVNET and DEVNET Pavilion to guests coming from far away. He thanked government at all levels and Chinese and foreign enterprises for their long-term support to DEVNET Pavilion. Later he introduced distinguished guests like famous Japanese designer Mr. Gao Songshen, Ms. Misaki Chikako and Webscience representative Mr. Fabio Croci. Then Mr. Li Shien introduced stuff of DEVNET Pavilion and expressed his appreciation for their hard work. The modest and polite manner of the two directors again moved all guests at present.

In the middle of the banquet, General director of DEVNET Mr. Daniel Barrios delievered a speech. He first introduced DEVNET formation, major projects, development process in China and the long friendship with China. He emphasized that DEVNET Pavilion is not only a milestone in DEVNET history, but also a gift on DEVNET part to Chinese government as appreciation for their long-term support. When talking about 2010 World Expo, he said, “World Expo means for China an excellent opportunity to share experience and learn about how the rest of the world are doing for improving their people’s livelihood conditions. But also World Expo will allow the tens of millions who will visit it to understand why China is nowdays taking the centre of the stage. ” And “China arrives at World Expo with a sense of momentum, boasting an economy that, more than any other, is surfing through a crippling recession. While other major economies shrink this year.” He quoted Mr. Deng Xiaoping’s famous saying, “Mr. Deng Xiaoping used to say the process of reform and modernization of China were like ‘cross the river by feeling out the stones with our feet’. I am one hundred percent convinced that the cross of the river is coming to an end. The new challenge for China is now to cross the oceans and World Expo is an extraordinary opportunity.”

Later, Mr. Daniel Barrios, Mr. Gao Guoqiang and Mr. Li Shien proposed to over 500 guests, expressing their common wish to the success of both shanghai World Expo and DEVNET Pavilion.

The reception reached its climax when Mr. Gao brought in eight lovable “Millennium Babies” onto stage. Feeling awed at this surprise, reporters and guests from many places took pictures of the eight babies and another mascot of DEVNET Pavilion “Panda of World Map”. More than that, every guest received special gifts such as “Millennium Babies”from DEVNET Pavilion, which was a happy surprise for each one at present. Finally, the reciprocal reception of DEVNET Pavilion ended in a merry and cheerful atmosphere.

Before the reception started, a grand signing ceremony was held between DEVNET and over thirty local government and units from Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong and Anhui, etc. Mr. Daniel Barrios and Mr. Lishien, respectively in the name of DEVNET and DEVNET Pavilion, signed inclination agreement of “Interactive City of International Partnership” with representatives from local government and units.

The following is Daniel·Barrios speech on the reciprocal reception

Reciprocal Reception of Devnet Pavilion of Shanghai World Expo

Date:27th April 2009

Location: Shanghai China

• Technical Consulant of United Nations
• General Director of Devnet Organization---- the executive agency of UNDP

On behalf of Devnet International and Devnet China let me first express all our deep gratitude for accepting our invitation to attend this meeting.

After tomorrow only one year until World Expo will be opened, 365 countdown days for one of the most important event for Shanghai, for China and let me say, for all the world. During six month the Chinese people and the international community will be focusing their attention in China as well they did it one year ago when Beijing organized the most relevant and successful Olympic games in the history.

World Expo is conceived as an extraordinary opportunity for countries,international, regional and national organizations, privates and state owned companies to showcase the latest innovations in urban development and exchanging innovative ideas.

Being the first World Exposition which focus on the theme of "Better City, Better Life” for the first time almost 200 countries and 50 International organizations will contribute to share experience about scientific and technological innovation, cultural diversity and , 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.

Better City, Better Life means far beyond how to build a new concept of urban planning, how to conceive environmental sustainable cities.

This concept is about the end of poverty and hunger, universal education and health , is about gender equality, the access to the new technologies of information and communications, is about a more effective aid, and fairer trade rules, in other word is about how to build a new human centered society.

For China the theme of World Expo, if possible, is still more meaningful because is also an extraordinary chance to proof what China is doing to reach one of the most relevant contribution of Confucius, more than 2500 year ago: 'harmony is something to be cherished'.

Harmonious society is based on the goal of building a well-off society and creating a new socialist situation, focusing from economic growth to overall societal balance and harmony. Although China society has still many contradictions and uncertain factors in it, three decades of reform and opening-up have brought about tangible achievements in China's economic development. People's living standards have been greatly improved and the number of poor people has decreased by a large number. Job opportunities have increased and deep-seated problems are being solved step by step. A harmonious society featuring orderly competition and honesty is taking shape.

A harmonious society should also see great improvements in morals and education. The strategy of invigorating the nation by education should be followed and elementary education and higher education universalized.

World Expo must be also seen, as no event took place before, as one of the greatest contribution for a critical assessment of the state of the art as well as a contribution for the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

Devnet Internatioal an executing agency of UNDP and a Non-Governmental Organization with Category 1 Consultative Status granted by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), feels very proud and express its acknowledgment to the Bureau of Coordination for selecting our organization and having our own pavilion in 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

Devnet activities date back to 1985 when the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Science and Technology Fund (UNFSTD) entrusted the execution of the TIPS Programme to DEVNET.

Devnet started its activities in China when the process of reform led by Mr. Den Xiaoping was starting, the so called “Second Long March. The first Long March guided by Mr. Mao Zedong, “the great helmsman” led China to the establishment of the socialism and the foundation of Popular Republic 60 years ago, The second, under the leadership of “the little helmsman” brought prosperity for hundred of millions of people.

As one of the first 4 Devnet/Tips founders, China has become a member of Devnet since December 1985, just a quarter of century ago.

Since its founding, DEVNET China, oriented by Mr. Gao Guo Qiang has been assisting Chinese local governments and enterprises to invite foreign investment, promote import and export of technologies and products, and strengthen international exchange and cooperation. It has become one of the most developed commercial and investment networks within that country.

For Devnet the World Expo is the opportunity to stress our main mission: contributing to social and economic sustainable development in the context of the Millennium Development Goals.

The main programmes that Devnet has been executing on behalf of UNDP, firstly TIPS (Technological and Trade Information Sysytem) and Winner (Women in the New Network for Entrepreneurial Reinforcement), as well as the other we are planning to launch during World Expo as ERIC, E-Citizen and EBmeeting are full oriented to generate new opportunities for local development, build regional and international capabilities and facilitate their participation in the global market.

Key elements of the international agenda for development constitute the core issues addressed by DEVNET:

• Promoting gender equality and youth and women´s empowerment;
• Bridging the digital divide, focused on the most vulnerable sectors of society;
• Fostering competitiveness of medium/small/micro enterprises to new markets;
• International and Regional Resources mobilization for funding development and infrastructure projects;
• Communication and marketing;
• Integrating environmental sustainability, dignity and human well-being strategies in rural areas.

Working from its networks and programmes developed in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America, DEVNET promotes vocational training, appropriate technology transfer, horizontal technical cooperation, strategic alliances, and new venture opportunities.

China arrives at World Expo with a sense of momentum, boasting an economy that, more than any other, is surfing the trough of a crippling recession. While other major economies shrink this year, China’s is expected by some economists to pass Japan’s as the world’s second largest, if it has not already.

Now, with the West in economic disarray, World Expo is also seen an opportunity to start wielding a bit more of the clout that they feel they deserve given recent, rapid economic growth and the country’s importance to a global recovery.

“Bailing out China is our most important contribution to bail out the world,” said Tang Min, an economist at the state-financed China Development Research Foundation.

With most of the world in financial collapse, China’s economy has suddenly become too big — and too healthy, expected to grow by at least 6.5 percent this year — for the rest of the world to ignore.

For most of the past two decades (flare-ups with Taiwan in 1995-96 and with America in 2001 excepted) China has played a cautious game internationally. Its approach was summed up in the pithy four-character phrases into which Chinese policymakers love to distil their thinking. The late Deng Xiaoping came up with a string of them: China should keep a low profile, not take the lead, watch developments patiently and keep its capabilities hidden.

Now the global economic crisis an evidence of China’s ascension is everywhere.

Three years ago, China did not have a single bank among the world’s top 20, measured by market capitalization. Today the top three are Chinese. (In 2006, the United States had 7 of the top 20 banks, including the top 2; today it has 3, and the biggest, Morgan Stanley, is rated fifth.)

China’s government-owned enterprises are buying companies, technology and resources worldwide.

China holds $1 trillion in United States government debt, and that is but half the foreign reserves generated by its huge trade surplus and investment inflows. The rest of the West owes China money, too.

IF ONLY the rest of the world were run like China, the global financial crisis would be over much sooner. This is a further demonstration about the advantages of the Chinese development model which has demonstrate a prompt, decisive and effective policy measures, making vital policy decisions.

World Expo means for China an excellent opportunity to share experience and learn about how the rest of the world are doing for improving their people livelihood conditions. But also World Expo will allow the tens of millions who will visit it to understand why China is now a days taking the centre of the stage.

Mr. Deng Xiaoping used to say the process of reform and modernization of China were like “cross the river by feeling out the stones with our feet”. I am one hundred percent convinced that the cross of the river is coming to an end. The new challenge for China is now to cross the oceans and World Expo is an extraordinary opportunity.

Thank you very much for your kind attention.

Quoted Daniel·Barrios speech on the Reciprocal Reception

Source: http://www.devnet-shanghai.org/en/news_detail.asp?myid=56