World Expo Representative: How Expo 2010 has transformed Shanghai

In the Puxi area of the original site of the Expo 2010 Shanghai sits the World Expo Museum. Though eight years have passed since the opening of the Expo 2010, the word "Expo" never fades away in the city.

On May 11, a ceremony was held at the museum for the opening of the “Expo Heritage-Exhibits Collections from World Expos,” an event that gathered many Expo hosts and bidding countries, including Kazakhstan, Japan and Russia. The event also marked the release of BIE (Bureau International des Expositions) official publications of the Expo 2010 Shanghai and Expo 2015 Milan. BIE is an intergovernmental organization that has overseen and regulated World Expos since 1928. “This marks that the World Expo Museum has entered a brand new stage. We will witness it becoming a global cultural landmark and setting an exemplary benchmark for many Expos,” said Dimitri Kerkentzes, Deputy Secretary General of BIE.

Dimitri is an old friend of the Expo 2010. During the Expo, he spent seven months as a BIE representative to Shanghai. He is affectionately called Xiao Di by his Chinese friends here. Standing at the museum, the Expo eight years ago still remains strong in his mind.

(Dimitri Kerkentzes addresses the audience at the opening ceremony)