Prince raises curtain on UK's National Day Expo celebrations
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The UK's September 8 National Day Programme opened begining with a China British Business Awards with HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying, celebrating the contribution made to each other's economies by Chinese and British investors, and is followed by performances by, among others, the English National Ballet and a gala performance by the London Symphony Orchestra.
National Day is the highlight of the UK's participation at Expo, and continues the theme of partnership which has run throughout the six months of the UK's participation.
The close partnership between the UK and China extend from business to the arts, and the centrepiece of the programme will be the world premiere of a ballet, created especially for UK National Day and performed by dancers from both the English National Ballet and the Shanghai Ballet.
The programme reflects the theme of the UK Pavilion "Building on the Past and Shaping our Future" combining bot h the UK's cultural history with its modern dynamism.
Prince Andrew said, "This is a day to mark the strong and strengthening ties between the United Kingdom and China in many different areas including trade and investment, culture, science and innovation, sport, low carbon development and education."
Heritage and tradition is reflected by the London Symphony Orchestra and a moving closing ceremony by the Royal Marines Band.
Irish folk band Duke Special, street theatre, and an innovative art installation, Congregation, exhibit the UK's modern edge.
Mirroring the diversity of the programme and partnership between the UK and China, the UK's delegation is similarly broad. As well as the Duke the delegation includes the head of UKTI, British Council, Ambassador to China Sebastian Wood, senior military and leaders from across British business.
The UK Pavilion has already attracted over 5.5 million visitors, well above expectations. It has also won the prestigious RIBA Lub etkin award for an international architecture project.
The UK's unique approach to Expo, which has delivered much of the content of Expo through a programme of 300 business and cultural events, is also expected to bring a legacy of even closer partnership between Chinese and British people across a huge cross section of society and the economy.
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