Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao declares the closing of EXPO 2010 at the closing ceremony

31/10/10 - EXPO 2010 was declared closed by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the closing ceremony held  tonight in the Expo Culture Center in Shanghai.

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan, in a speech, said that the Expo has brought China and the world together.  A more open, inclusive, culturally-advanced, and forward-moving China will join other countries in ushering in an ever brighter future for all, he proclaimed.

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan at the closing ceremoy

BIE President Jean-Pierre Lafon praised the Expo as an "astounding success," and said, in Chinese, "Expo 2010 is the success of China.  It is the success of Shanghai.  It is also the great success of the World Expo" to the great applause of all.

BIE President Jean-Pierre Lafon at the closing ceremony

The closing ceremony featured a number of videos and live performances by artists and participants at the Expo.  An important moment was when the BIE flag was lowered and handed over by Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng and Hong Hao, Director General of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, to BIE Secretary-General and President, who then handed it over to Letizia Moratti, Mayor of Milan, and Giuseppe Sala of Expo 2015 SpA, the organizing company of the 2015 World Expo in Milan.  The flag hand-over represented the passing on of the baton from one World Expo to the next, symbolizing the continuity in the tradition of World Expos under the auspices of the BIE.

Flag hand-over from EXPO 2010 to EXPO 2015

EXPO 2010 has broken records, having attracted in 6 months over 73 million visitors and on its peak day attracting over a million people in a single day, according to Expo organizers.  A total of 189 countries and 57 international organizations participated in the event.  These figures make EXPO 2010 a milestone in the history of World Expos.

After 184 days, the Expo today closed its doors to the public.

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