SHANGHAI – On May 17, at the invitation of the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE), a Kazakhstan delegation headed by Commissioner of EXPO 2017 and Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rapil Zhoshybayev and Chairman of the Board of the JSC Astana EXPO 2017 Talgat Yermegiyayev visited Shanghai.
The delegation took part in celebrations of the International Day of the World Expo Museum and held talks with the leadership of Shanghai’s state-owned investment company, EXPO Development Group, which arranges the use of pavilions and other sites of Shanghai EXPO 2010.
The delegation also met with representatives of the telecommunication corporation ZTE and leading construction companies, Beijing Capital Group and China State Construction Engineering Corporation. The parties discussed the forthcoming expo in Astana, prospects for further cooperation and the exchange of experience. EXPO 2017 Commissioner Zhoshybayev held meetings with the management of the tourism department of Shanghai and leading Chinese travel corporation Jin Jiang, which was responsible for tourism within the framework of EXPO 2010.
According to the organisers, EXPO 2010 was visited by over 73 million people, more than 3.5 million of them foreigners. Chinese colleagues shared their experience of hosting the Shanghai exhibition and supported the opening of direct flights between Astana and Shanghai. Following the meeting, the parties agreed on further cooperation to promote the tourism potential of Kazakhstan.
During the celebrations of the World Expo Museum, the Kazakhstan delegation met with Mayor of Shanghai Yang Xiong, the BIE chief delegate and director of the World Expo Museum Lorelei Liu.
Shanghai EXPO 2010 is recognised as one of the most successful exhibitions. Despite the global financial crisis, the event helped China attract more investment to various sectors of its economy, introduce advanced technologies and witness the innovations of foreign companies.