Contract signed on Croatia’s participation in EXPO 2010v

The contract was signed from the Chinese side by Director General of Shanghai World Expo Coordination Bureau Hong Hao and Chief Commissioner Hua Jun Duo, and from the Croatian side by National Commissioner for the EXPO 2010 Ivica Maričić.

The EXPO 2010 will be held in Shanghai under the subject “better City, Better Life”. The Croatian Government has confirmed Croatia’s participation and ran a tender for the pavilion’s conceptual solution, choosing a project by architect Branko Silađin entitled “Life Is in Between”. This will be Croatia’s fifth consecutive participation at the world expos, and is significant as the year 2010 also marks the 30th anniversary of Zagreb and Shanghai’s friendship.

The follow-up saw a presentation of the Croatian pavilion, to be built in the shape of a town square with a loggia, spreading over 2000 m². A square with a municipal loggia is characteristic of the Croatian urban tradition and represents a place of gathering and information exchange.

The closing speech was held by Secretary General of the Bureau of International Expositions Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales, pointing out Croatia has had exceptionally well-received appearances at all of the world expos it participated in, expressing his conviction that Shanghai will be no exception.

Present at the signing ceremony were Shanghai’s Vice Mayor Yang Xiong and Croatian Ambassador to Madrid Filip Vučak.