For almost 200 years, universal expositions have been an extraordinarily useful means of transferring and disseminating the achievements and advances of humanity while facilitating more intensive contact between the peoples and cultures of the world in different areas such as the economy, industry, trade, and technology, among others. In this sense, we should mention the history of Argentina as participant in this type of events, being the Latin American country with strongest presence at these events since 1855.

Within this historical context, EXPO SHANGHAI 2010 has a special meaning for several reasons. The first one is naturally related to the importance of the host country. In effect, China has all the features of a world power whose importance is based not only on its geography and population but also, and especially, on the fact that it is an ancient culture –a real lighthouse of civilization which is also immersed in a phenomenal process of comprehensive transformation. This has placed Chinese society and China in general in a leading position within the international community.

Another important reason is that this event will enable and promote even more a better knowledge of the Asian world by the people in our Americas and beyond.

Finally, the theme chosen to be the core of this exhibition and which is better summarized in the tagline “Better city, better life” acquires a particular meaning as it relates to one of the most characteristic phenomena in the evolution of humankind over the past two centuries, that is to say, an urbanization with an exponential growth. We should bear in mind that in 1800 only 2% of the world population lived in cities; in 2011, the urban population is expected to represent 55% of the total inhabitants of the Earth.

It is thus undebatable that when we face an ever increasing frequency of important challenges arising from the universal phenomenon of urbanization and, in particular, modern megalopolis, both in the field of economic resources as in connection with social coexistence in that environment, we need to find as quickly as possible adequate solutions considering an almost infinite variety of needs and interests which emerge from this phenomenon.

In that sense, the EXPO will serve as the ideal framework for novel proposals, successful cases and numerous academic studies which will allow a select group of experts from all the participating nations specialized in each subject to exchange experiences and debate possible solutions to the main challenges arising from urban life in all the regions of the world.

We are all aware of these challenges. Some of them are a waste of resources, pollution, urban stress, complexity of communications, social inequality, crime, health and education issues.

I think that deep down what we are seeking, that is to say, the wish of all of humankind, is to have better lives in an urban environment where existence is sustainable in harmony with the environment and where the main axis is always the human being.