Society
'Let foreigners go to Expo first'
By Qian Yanfeng and Gao Changxing (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-01-29 07:46
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SHANGHAI: Mayor Han Zheng yesterday called on the city's residents to wait and visit the exhibition pavilions at the Expo site after the event ends, so as to make room for more visitors from outside the city.
"Some sought-after pavilions, including the China Pavilion, will be kept open after the Expo ends on Oct 31, so our residents will be able to visit them after the Expo's official closing. We encourage Shanghai residents to go there after it finishes or during our trial operation in April," said Han in his supplementary report to the annual municipal people's congress.
Organizers estimate a daily average of 400,000 visitors on weekdays, while on weekends and holidays, the number is expected to hit 600,000.
The China Pavilion, composed of a national pavilion and more than 30 regional pavilions, can accommodate 50,000 people every day, yet that accounts for only one-eighth the number of people who will be allowed into the Expo park each day.
To ease the strain, the government "will arrange for as many Shanghai residents as possible to visit the Expo park during its trial operation," Han said.
He urged local residents to observe civil behavior and exercise restraint in queuing up for a view of the pavilions.
The mayor also dismissed reports that about 10 to 20 percent of the national pavilions under construction at the Expo site won't be ready for visitors when the event kicks off.
"Construction has been going smoothly. Venues built by the Chinese organizers will be open to visitors during our trial operation. Foreign pavilions can make their own decisions about whether to join in or not," he said.
Hong Hao, director-general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, also said organizers will try their best to have all the pavilions open to visitors on May 1.
To date, 192 countries and 50 international organizations have confirmed their participation in the global event, which is less than 100 days away.
Mayor reports on revenue
On questions of government revenue, the mayor said he has confidence in achieving 8 percent growth in fiscal revenue this year, but the budget will be tight because of increased spending on social security. Also, the city will implement a further tax reduction to encourage the development of business. The government had earmarked 11 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) for old-age pension payments this year, he said.
Han said he expects the unemployment rate to rise by 0.2 percent to 4.5 percent this year, as more people need re-employment and more graduates enter the market.
"As construction for the Expo gradually wraps up, there will also be fewer jobs for migrant workers," he said.
