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| A Japanese monk (L) enters the
Cambodian pavilion during a preview of the 2005 World
Exposition in Nagakute, Aichi prefecture. The 185-day world expo will officially
open March 25.(AFP/File/Kazuhiro
Nogi) | |
The 21st century's first World Exposition opened
in Japan with governments and companies showcasing technology and culture
in a six-month event expected to draw 15 million visitors.
Humanoid robots walked, danced and played music alongside real humans
who carried flags of 121 countries on a stage in Japan's industrial
heartland of Aichi some 250 kilometers (155 miles) west of Tokyo.
"I hope this exposition will become the starting point for us to think
about coexistence of humans and nature," Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
told more than 2,000 invited guests at the forest park, which will open to
the general public Friday.
"The key to make environmental protection compatible with economic
development is technology. By managing to promote both environmental
protection and economic prosperity, we must pass on this beautiful Earth
to our children," Koizumi said.
The theme of the latest Expo, which traces its roots to the 1851 Great
Exhibition in London, is "Nature's Wisdom" with 121 countries hosting
displays meant to show the link between technology and the environment.
The six-month event is expected to draw some 15 million people with
exhibits on everything from advanced robots to a frozen mammoth dug up in
Siberia, with the host country hoping to regain its image as a world
innovator.
Heads of state or government, including French President Jacques
Chirac, Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Central American
leaders, are due to visit the fair to promote their countries.
The event has been dubbed the "Toyota Expo" as it takes place in the
base of the automaker, which is Japan's largest company and will entertain
guests at its pavilion with
robots performing everything from a brass ensemble to hip-hop.
Japan readied for the Expo by opening last month its third
international airport, Centrair, as a gateway.
It is the first World Exposition to take place in Japan since 1970 in
Osaka.
That exhibition is credited with solidifying the image of post-World
War II Japan as a technology powerhouse, six years after the Tokyo
Olympics confirmed Japan was back on the map as a major world player.
"The World Exposition is the mirror that shows the shape of the era,"
said Shoichiro Toyoda, chairman of the world fair.
"We have a mission to display modern civilizations and culture as well
as the latest technologies and pass them on to make the future generations
prosperous," he said.
In a parallel, the next World Expo will be held in 2010 in Shanghai,
two years after Beijing hosts the summer Olympics in a sign of China's
rise.
（Agencies) |
21世纪的首次世博会在日本开幕了。在为期六个月的时间里，各国政府和企业将尽情展示他们的科技文化成果，这次盛会预计将吸引1500万参观者。
位于东京以西约250公里（155英里）的爱知县是日本的工业中心，也是这次世博会的承办地。在会场中，惟妙惟肖的人型机器人在手持121国国旗的旗手旁边踏步、跳舞和奏乐。
日本首相小泉纯一郎在森林公园面对2000多位特邀嘉宾说：“我希望这次世博会能成为一个契机，让我们开始思考人类与自然和谐共存的问题。”森林公园将于本周五向公众开放。
小泉纯一郎说：“科技是使环境保护和经济发展相协调的关键因素。我们在发展经济的同时，必须致力于环境保护，我们一定要把这个美丽的地球留给我们的子孙后代。”
这次世博会的主题“自然的智慧”可以追溯到1851年在伦敦召开的万国大博览会。121个国家围绕这个主题布置了自己的展台，旨在展示着科技与环境的联系。
为期6个月的展览会预计将接待1500万左右的参观者。展览的内容包罗万象，从最新式的机器人到在西伯利亚冰层挖掘出的猛犸巨象。作为主办方，日本希望通过这次世博会重塑自己世界科技发明者的形象。
各个国家和地区的首脑，包括法国总统希拉克、澳大利亚总理霍华德以及中美洲国家的领导人们，将出现在展览会场，为自己的国家作一回“推销员”。
这次世博会被称为“丰田世博会”，因为爱知县正是丰田公司总部所在地。为了带给观众更为精彩的体验，这家日本最大的公司将在其展厅中安排机器人表演铜管乐合奏和街舞等各种节目。
为了迎接世博会的召开，上个月，日本的第三个国际机场--中部国际机场正式投入使用。
此次盛会是继1970年大阪世博会之后，世博会第二次落户日本。
1964年的东京奥运会标志着日本重回世界大舞台，而6年之后的大阪世博会则被认为使日本战后"科技强国"的形象更加深入人心。
本届世博会主席丰田章一郎说：“世博会就是一面镜子，从中我们能够看到时代的脉络”。
他补充说：“我们的使命是在展示现代文明、文化和最新科学技术的同时将它们传下去，造福子孙。”
与日本类似的是，2008年，北京将代表正在崛起的中国举办夏季奥运会，两年后的2010年，下一届的世界博览会将在上海举行。
（中国日报网站译） |
Updated: 2005-03-28 10:30