Statement by the UN Commissioner General, Expo 2010 Dr. Awni Behnam on the ocassion of the visit of the Mayor of Shanghai H.E. Han Zheng to Geneva, 6 June 2009
Honorable Mayor Han Zheng Mayor of Shanghai
Excellency Ambassador Li Baodong
Mr. Hong Hao , Deputy Secretary General of Shanghai Municipal Government .
Distinguished guests
Let me first say how honored we all are for your presence Mr. Mayor with us this evening
and how grateful we are for the unparalleled support that you have extended to the United
Nations and other International Organizations participating in EXPO 2010.
As the Commissioner-General for the UN Pavilion and on behalf of the Secretary General Mr.
BAN Ki -moon I wish to express our deep appreciation for this opportunity to meet you all
and extend to you the welcoming hand of the United Nations Pavilion at Expo 2010.
The theme of the EXPO 2010 is Better City, Better Life and as such it could not be held in a
better city than Shanghai, a truly magical city, forever changing to the better. Thanks to you
Mr. Mayor and the Municipal Government of Shanghai, the city has become a unique and
shining example of how to meet the challenges of urbanization, rejuvenation, modernization
and above all, how to evolve into a city that caters for the happiness of people, and the
betterment of their life.
From my vantage view and engagement in the EXPO 2010, I can in all honesty say that I am
convinced there never has been, nor will ever be an Expo comparable to EXPO 2010 . From
what I have witnessed it will be the EXPO of our time.
The expo was aptly described as the Olympics of Development, as it will provide a unique
opportunity to seek answers to the challenges of urbanization and climate change where cities
are also engines of growth and economic and social inclusion with a healthy respect for the
environment. It will expand our horizon and understanding of how future cities can mitigate
natural disasters, deal with health pandemics, yet remain as centers of creativity, education,
culture, harmony and centers for decent work for all.
I am convinced that the EXPO 2010 will engage every one of us here and offers the United
Nations System, Funds, Programmers, International Organizations and Partner’s access to
convey their own contribution to some seventy million visitors and another billion of online
visitors.
The UN Pavilion will be an experience one that offers a permanent exposition, a rolling one,
and facilities for meetings with people to people interaction including a Roman-style theatre
among many other opportunities that will be available to the participants.
The UN Secretary-General in encouraging all agencies, international organizations and
partners to participate in EXPO 2010 said:
¨The United Nations Pavilion at Expo 2010, with the theme “One Earth, One UN”, will
showcase the wide-ranging efforts of the UN system to help the world to achieve sustainable
urban development. The exhibitions will display not only our knowledge and best practices,
but also our unity of purpose advancing this crucially important agenda.¨
Let me close by again reiterating our deep appreciation and gratitude to You Mr. Mayor
personally, to the City of Shanghai and to the People and Government of the Peoples´s
Republic of China for your unlimited generosity and support to the United Nations and
international organizations.
Thank you
Office of the UN Commissioner General
United Nations Pavilion, Expo 2010
International Environmental House, 5th Floor
7 Chemin de Balexert, CH-1219 Châtelaine/Genève,
Tel: +41-22-917 8782, Fax: +41-22-917 8046
Source: http://www.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/Dinner_Gala_Statement.pdf |
