31/10/10 - The Summit Forum held on the closing day of EXPO 2010 welcomed Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, BIE Secretary-General Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales and President Jean-Pierre Lafon, as well as several heads of states and governments and other distinguished guests around the theme of "Urban Innovation and Sustainable Development" and served as the climax of the six preceding Expo Theme Forums, presenting at the end the Shanghai Declaration, the crown of EXPO 2010's intellectual legacy. 

In his keynote speech, Premier Wen Jiabao called EXPO 2010 a "glorious chapiter to the World Expo history" and said that as the first Expo held by a developing country, in the downtown area of a mega city and in the shadow of an international financial crisis, its preparation had been a "severe test" to China and Shanghai.

Saying that the "Expo Spirit means that we must all work together to meet challenges and pursue peace and development," Premier Wen summed up the conclusions drawn from the previous Theme Forums and called for jointly promoting harmonious urban development, advancing modernization in rural areas, helping the less developed regions to achieve common development, protecting the environment, and jointly upholding world peace and stability.  "The Shanghai Expo has offered the Chinese people a good opportunity to learn form the world. One day in Expo is more rewarding than ten years' reading," he added.

Premier Wen concluded by stating that "only an open and inclusive country can become an advanced one and only by standing on the shoulders giants can one look farther. The success of the Expo has strengthened China's confidence and resolve to pursue reform and opening-up. China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful developments of all civilizations, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries and make greater contribution to the progress of human civilization."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, for his part, said in his opening remarks that "thanks to this Expo, millions of people learned about possibilities for making our cities healthier and safer - cities that better integrate nature and technology; cities that offer their citizens cleaner air and water, and better lives all around."  This Expo offered hope for tackling the growing challenges of our urbanized age, he said, adding that with this Expo, Shanghai has "secured its reputation as one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities."

BIE Secretary-General Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales stressed that the Expo has inspired a mindset of cooperation, solidarity, and openness - which are essential in tackling the major challenges of our time.  "For visitors and participants alike, this Expo has offered unmatched opportunities to experience cultural differences, to understand ongoing global efforts, and to learn about different paths for future progress," he said.  Moreover, Loscertales described the Summit Forum as reflecting the thematic wisdom of the Expo and stated that it was the product of a cooperation between participants, governments, and international organizations that is unprecedented in the history of World Expos.

The Summit Forum also welcomed, among an impressive array of distinguished speakers, the Finnish Prime Minister  Mari Kiviniemi, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Lesotho Pakalitha Mosisili, Chairman of the Parliament of Poland Grzegorz Schetyna, Lord Nicholas Stern of the influential Stern Review, and 2004 Physics Nobel Laureate David Gross.

After the opening ceremony and opening plenary, six parallel sessions making direct references to previous Theme Forums were held: "ICT and Digital Cities," "Knowledge Innovation and Cultural Cities," "Green Development and Eco-Cities," "Science & Technology Progress and Creative Cities," "Economic Transformation and Sustainable Cities," and "Community Management and Livable Cities."  One additional session was held to correspond to the Youth Forums: "Youth's Creativity and Future Cities." 

The Shanghai Declaration, a non-binding document that integrates the conclusions of the six preceding Theme Forums held in various neighboring cities of Shanghai and which attempts to provide a roadmap for a sustainable urban future, was announced at the closing plenary by Yang Xiong, Executive Vice Mayor of Shanghai and Deputy Director of the Executive Committee of the Expo 2010 Shanghai China.  The Shanghai Declaration was issued by nations, regions, and international organizations participating in the Expo.  It called upon the world to "pursue the efforts [participants at the Expo] have undertaken in the Shanghai Expo: to promote sustainable urban development, to foster cooperation and exchanges among cities and regions, and to share experiences and lessons in urbanization."  For the full text of the Shanghai Declaration, click here.

The Expo 2010 Shanghai China Youth Initiative was also announced at the closing plenary.

The Summit Forum was jointly organized by EXPO 2010, the UN, and the BIE.

(Photos courtesy of EXPO 2010 official website - www.expo2010.cn)