Economy

Markets

Industries

Insights

Reports

Events

Construction of Taiwan Pavilion at World Expo starts

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-08-18 09:46

Delegates attend the ground-breaking ceremony of the Taiwanese pavilion for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo in Shanghai, Aug 17, 2009. [Xinhua]

Construction of the Taiwan Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo started in Shanghai Monday despite the losses from Typhoon Morakot.

The ground-breaking for the pavilion should be attributed to the care and support from all the relevant departments although Taiwan is suffering the worst flood in the past five decades, said Wang Chih-Kang, board chairman of Taipei World Trade Center.

Photo taken on Aug 17, 2009 shows the model of the Taiwanese pavilion for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, in Shanghai. [Xinhua]

The center received the invitation to build the pavilion only about three months ago. The construction started quickly thanks to the support from the expo organizers, departments in Taiwan and Taiwan-invested enterprises in the mainland, Wang said.

Related readings:  Shanghai to restore Bund ahead of World Expo  Games lights path for Shanghai 'green' expo  Mainland aid leaves for typhoon-hit Taiwan  Typhoon Morakot kills 124, injures 45 in Taiwan

The pavilion is expected to cost 200 million yuan ($29 million) and to be finished in March next year.

The pavilion resembles the "sky lantern" or Kong Ming lantern. People fly the lanterns to pray for happiness, safety and health in Taiwan.

Morakot wreaked havoc across central and southern Taiwan. At least 126 people were killed and 61 others were still missing by 8 am Monday, according to local disaster response authorities. Another 45 people were injured.