World Expo and Flora Expo: Taipei Perfect in City Diplomacy

TAIPEI, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--After participating in Expo 2010 Shanghai, Taipei City hosted the 2010 Taipei Flora Exposition, once again successfully attracting the international spotlight. At World Expo, Taipei promoted itself by exhibiting two proposals--“Recycling for a Sustainable Society” and “Wireless Broadband Wireless City”. With the opening of Flora Exposition on Nov. 6, Taipei once more demonstrated its governing achievement. Through World Expo and Flora Expo, Taipei has made a perfect performance in city diplomacy, and become the best practice for many cities.

“the best I have ever seen in 50 years”

The core value of Flora Exposition is to increase citizens’ interests in gardening and improve environmental quality and citizens’ taste of living, said Dr. Doeke Faber, the President of AIPH, on the opening day of Taipei Flora Exposition. He praised that Taipei Flora Exposition is “the best I have ever seen in 50 years,” and can set the example for the next ten years. Peter Woods, Secretary General of UCLG ASPAC, compared Shanghai’s World Expo with Taipei’s Flora Exposition, and believes both have achieved similar performance, which Taipei City citizens should be proud of. Toyo Ito, the famous architect, considered the Pavilion of New Fashion in Flora Exposition demonstrates international carbon-reducing trend and is the most innovative architectural method he has ever seen. Jason Woo, a director from H. K., indicated that he would apply those elements learned from the Expo to his new movie. Also, James and Oliver Phelps, the actors who starred as Ron Weasley’s twin brothers in the movie “Harry Potter”, arrived in Taipei on November 11^th and were so fascinated with the culture and cuisine of the city that they decided to spend another day here to further experience the life style.

The Taipei Pavilion at World Expo had made similar contribution for city diplomacy. Shanghai City Government announced that the two proposals of Taipei Pavilion will be included in the Chinese central government’s 12th 5-year-plan. During the World Expo, Taipei Pavilion gave a briefing to more than 500 VIPs; among them were members of the European Parliament, CSIS delegation, members of China’s State Council, provincial and city delegations, as well as many environmental protection and internet construction agencies from around the world. They were all eager to witness and learn from the governing achievements of Taipei.

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