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As two-time world fair host, Chicago anticipates exciting 2010 Shanghai Expo

2010-04-09 08:20 BJT

Special Report: Shanghai World Expo 2010 |

by Jing Zhao Cesarone

CHICAGO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The proud host of two landmark world fairs, Chicago looks forward to being part of the 2010 Shanghai Expo which will open on April 30th, said a Chicago executive on Thursday.

Thomas W. Bartkoski is the Director of International Business Development for World Business Chicago, the city's not-for-profit economic development corporation. Chaired by Mayor Richard M. Daley, the corporation focuses on advancing the Chicago region's global position as a thriving business location.

In an exclusive interview, Bartkoski told Xinhua, "Chicago has a sister city relationship with Shanghai which goes back many years. Mayor Richard Daley and Mayor Han Zheng of Shanghai have maintained a very close relationship. They both visited each other 's cities many times."

Talking about the upcoming Shanghai Expo, Bartkoski said: "We are very much looking forward to it. We are very excited about the potential of the expo and we know Shanghai will do an incredible job. We are working on plans to not only bring government, but also business representatives, from Chicago to attend the fair. We are also considering the possibility of becoming an active participant in the fair."

Bartkoski visited Shanghai last fall and saw the enormous preparation under way. "It is just staggering in terms of infrastructure and facility. Clearly, Shanghai has put a lot of effort into being a good host and putting on a memorable fair," he said.

Chicago has had the honor of hosting two world fairs in the past: the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893 and the Chicago World's Fair in 1933-34. Bartkoski said, "Chicago is so proud of the two fairs that they are represented permanently on our city flag: two of the four stars signify the two world expos."

The first world's fair, The World's Columbian Exposition, was held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago was chosen over New York City, Washington, D.C., and St. Louis, Missouri, for the honor of hosting the fair.

Bartkoski said: "The fair had a profound effect on architecture, art, and Chicago's self-image. An important legacy of this fair was the 'City Beautiful Movement.' After visiting the fair, many architects, designers and artists realized that they needed parks and spaces to make their cities beautiful places to live."

Reflecting on the second fair in 1933, Bartkoski said: "It was the first fair of its type to have a theme revolving around scientific and technological progress. The theme 'A Century of Progress' was the driver for the fair and its participants."