World Expo 2010 in Shanghai is

expected to be an excellent
opportunity for Slovenia to present
itself to China

(http://www.slovenia.si/mma_bin.php?
id=2010042814525047&src=mid)

Wednesday, 28 April 2010

The Slovenian pavilion, extending on a surface of 1,000 square metres

is based on the "Open book" which is connected to Ljubljana's one-
year stint as UNESCO's World Book Capital, which has just got under
way.

The fair will feature over 200 countries and international organisations, more than
20,000 events, and attract around 70 million visitors.

Interest among Slovenian companies is big and the same goes for trips by business
delegations. A planed visit to Shanghai by Prime Minister Borut Pahor in June is
expected to also include a strong business delegation. Another business delegation
visit is being arranged for October.

World Expo 2010 in Shanghai is the third World Expo Slovenia attends after those in
Lisbon 1998 and Hannover 2000.

The Slovenian pavilion, extending on a surface of 1,000 square metres is based on the
"Open book". The "Open book" theme means visitors will be walking through eight
books which will focus on different areas presented at the fair. An emphasis will be put
on a book written especially for the occasion by famed Slovenian philosopher Slavoj
Žižek (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavoj_Zizek) .

"Open book" concept can be woven into the "Better City, Better Life" theme of the
Expo, since it implies a journey from the past, which is represented by cultural
heritage, to current topical issues and into the future. And books are the guiding stars
that lead us through all periods. The wish for knowledge which is intertwined with
books is what the Chinese people like. Slovenian students learning the Chinese
language will be helping at the pavilion.

The Slovenian pavilion will be easy to notice both because of the design and the
favourable location close to the sky walk area which enables visitors to see pavilions
from above. The pavilion was designed by architect Boris Podrecca
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Podrecca) and artist Matej Andraž Vogrinčič
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matej_Andraz_Vogrincic) .

The Slovenian organisers are also planning a series of cultural events. Slovenia's
traditional hairy and scary carnival figures - the kurenti from Ptuj
(http://www.kurentovanje.net/about-kurentovanje) -will for instance present
themselves in Shanghai on 9 May, and then visit other Chinese cities. Other highlights
include the Sounds of Slovenia (http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=MjTijqMm_24) project featuring some 20 musicians on the Slovenia Day on 24
June and a talk by Žižek in May for Chinese students at Shanghai University.

As part of the 2 July conference on space organised by the European Commission, a

show by theatre director Dragan Živadinov
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragan_Zivadinov) on Slovenian space visionary
Herman Potočnik Noordong (1892-1929)
(http://noordung.vesolje.net/vsebina/index.htm) will take place. Events to take place
in the months to follow are still being arranged.

Related links:

Ljubljana - UNESCO's World Book Capital 2010

(http://www.ljubljana.si/en/living-in-ljubljana/focus/67173/detail.html)
Slovenia on Expo 2010 (http://www.expo2010.si/) (soon in English)
Expo 2010 - official web site /Slovenia (http://en.expo2010.cn/c/en_gj_tpl_95.htm)

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