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On the Way to Shanghai 2010
Since the first universal exposition (London, 1851), these forums have been exhibition sites in which countries seeking to make a place for themselves in the international arena have been able to affirm their identity and potential as members of the global community.
Mexico’s participation in universal expositions has become a longstanding tradition. The country has been present in 29 universal expositions around the world in which it has participated actively with the presentation of viable proposals for solving the main environmental, urban and social problems.
Throughout these years, the country’s participation has been enriched thanks to the pre-Hispanic heritage, colonial art, popular crafts, painting and gastronomy, among other factors. Mexico has strengthened its presence in these sites through the introduction of avant-garde elements that make it possible to show the other side of the country: the image of modern Mexico.
For Mexico, international cooperation is a fundamental instrument of its foreign policy and a mechanism for action to strengthen its links with the rest of the world. Mexico is prominent for its participation in multilateral agencies, forms part of more than 130 international forums and is the tenth world contributor –the first in Latin America and the Caribbean– to the assessed budget of the United Nations. In fact, 52 percent of the region’s contributions to this agency are covered by Mexico.
With regard to the diversification of Mexico’s foreign relations, links with India and China have been deepened. Likewise, progress was made in the establishment of a Strategic Association with the European Union. The country coordinates the efforts of the Group of Five –made up of Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa– and has participated vigorously in diverse meetings of Heads of State and Government.
It is the Mexican government’s responsibility to maintain and increase recognition and respect for the country in the world and make known its economic and commercial importance; its wealth of natural resources; its privileged location on the American continent and its demographic and cultural importance.
An excellent way of doing so is to participate in universal expositions, which constitute a forum for international dialogue and the means through which the world’s fundamental advances in technology, environment and social development become known.
In 2010 Universal Expo 2010 Shanghai will be held with the theme “Better City, Better Life”, in which Mexico will show its current projects, aimed at finding sustainable solutions for the main urban challenges.
At this Expo, Mexico will build a pavilion on 4,000 square meters of land which will accommodate its proposal to find better forms of coexistence. During the six months of the exposition, Mexico will show its qualities in terms of tourism, real-estate developments, high quality technologies and favorable infrastructure for the business environment.
According to its Organizing Committee, attendance at Expo Shanghai 2010 will be of 70 million visits. As a result, Mexico’s participation in this universal exposition will have favorable consequences on the country’s international economic relations and will reinforce its presence in potential Asian markets, catering to business diversification abroad, as well as the country’s active participation in a highly competitive international scenario.
