Tony Blair was the youngest British prime minister since 1812 when he took office in 1997 at the age of 44. The Oxford-educated attorney, who left office in 2007 after winning three terms, is now a special envoy to the Middle East.
The UK held the first World Expo in 1851. More than 150 years on, Shanghai will host the biggest and most high-profile Expo the world has ever seen. This incredible event is an important opportunity to strengthen the UK-China partnership. We can be proud of this partnership, which brings our two countries together across an impressive and diverse range of areas -- from education and business, to culture and science. Chinese Version>>
It is no surprise to me that the UK’s participation at China's Expo extends so far beyond the physical pavilion. The Shanghai Expo offers the UK and China the opportunity to demonstrate our friendship and collaboration, from joint performances of our most celebrated performers to coming together to tackle global problems, like climate change.
Therefore, I sincerely wish the people of Shanghai and visitors to the Expo an exciting and rewarding experience. And I hope you come to our UK pavilion, learn more about the UK and get involved with the extensive range of events we are holding in partnership with China. I also hope you will take time to contemplate the many opportunities and challenges that face our increasingly globalised world. And each one of us can contribute to creating a "Better City, Better Life."