The World Expo - Shanghai, scheduled to open on May 1st 2010, will be the first registered World Exposition in a developing country. As the host country, the national pavilion of the expo will be the focus of the world. Moreover, the exhibition design of the China Pavilion will also be one of the key indexes for evaluating the expo.

China's section of the expo will house the national pavilion, a joint pavilion for provinces and cities, and separate pavilions for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. The China Pavilion will have a floor area of 20,000 square meters and will remain a permanent fixture.

The theme for the exhibition designs will focus on "Chinese wisdom in urban development" by explaining traditional Chinese values about harmony, nature and spirit.

The national pavilion will be the highlight of the 2010 Expo. It will not only highlight Chinese culture but also convey the theme of "Better City, Better Life" combined with joyful and harmonious philosophies of life. The organizers expect excellent ideas and unique presentations from applicants.

The organizers have called on global construction designs for the China Pavilion starting this April and donations beginning this September. The final design will be unveiled when construction begins in December.

Solicitation details are available on the expo's official website. Winning entries will be published in mid-April of next year, according to the organizers.

For more details, please visit http://en.expo2010china.com.

(China.org.cn by Yang Xi, December 10, 2007)