Shanghai Daily news

Sunshine, beaches, diverse culture, friendly people and one of the most livable countries in the world are the stereotypical features when people talk about Australia.

In 2010, visitors to the World Expo Shanghai will get the chance to explore the real Australia after it signed a participation contract with Expo organizers early this month.

The Australia Pavilion will take visitors on a journey that unveils some of the country's natural beauty and unparalleled quality of life which demonstrate Australians' ability to respond creatively and effectively to the challenges during urbanization.

Its theme is "Mastering the Challenges: Australia's Smart Solutions for Our Urban Future."

Australia also faces challenges similar to those confronting many other countries, including maintaining strong economic growth while preserving the environment.

The pavilion, featuring sculptured curving walls and a red ochre exterior, will be a fun and relaxed place for people of all ages, says Peter Tesch, Australia's commissioner-general for World Expo 2010.

Divided into three distinct but inter-related sections labelled "Journey," "Discover" and "Enjoy," the pavilion will incorporate almost every aspect of Australian life.

These include spectacular landscape, a strong and vibrant economy, rich culture, technological expertise and innovation, outstanding research and education, and more importantly, its commitment to sustainable development.

The first part will take visitors on a journey where they will gradually leave behind them the bustle of the Expo site as they are drawn into a story depicting Australia's history with interactive and sophisticated exhibits and pictures.

They will be introduced to the multi-faceted population of Australia, beginning with the earliest inhabitants, the Aborigines, who arrived more than 50,000 years ago.

Chinese visitors will discover that Chinese migrants have been playing a prominent role in the development of Australia since the early 1800s and today after English, Chinese is the second most commonly spoken language in Australia.

Visitors can expect to learn more about the relationship between the open spaces of the Australian outback and the cosmopolitan urban hubs in the second section of the pavilion.

It will feature a 1,000-seat theater screening a multimedia show which reveal a society which, although characterized by rapid and deep penetration of new technology, still maintains a sustainable harmony between urban construction and natural environment via smart urban planning.

The show will also display Australia's innovation and achievements in renewable energy, transport, modern infrastructure and housing. The theater is expected to become the centerpiece of the whole exhibition, according to Tesch.

With the theme "Enjoy," the last section in the pavilion will provide visitors with a taste of some of Australia's landscape from red deserts to the lush rainforests of the tropical north.

About 160 Australian staff in the pavilion will provide bilingual services for the convenience of Chinese visitors as 7 million visitors are expected during the 184-day event, most of whom will be Chinese.

The Australian Government has allocated A$61 million (US$59 million) to fund the construction and exhibition of the pavilion and will seek another A$22 million from enterprises and state governments.

"Australia is making this unprecedented investment in Shanghai Expo because of the strategic importance of the two countries' bilateral relationship, and because of the increasingly close business, education, research, cultural and people-to-people links between China and Australia," says Tesch.