Expo will be a down-to-earth affair

Milan fair emphasizes agriculture, with China playing a leading role

World Expo 2015, which opens in Milan on May 1, will focus on modern agriculture, and China is reflecting that theme in its pavilion.

The theme of the pavilion is agriculture and food, all of which will run under the banner "Land of hope, food for life".

People at the Navigli District, a network of interconnected canals in Milan, northern Italy, on April 26. The Milan Expo opens on May 1. Photos provided to China Daily

In addition to promoting its business connections in agriculture at the expo, which runs until October, China will also emphasize areas including culture, finance and travel.

Wang Jinzhen, general representative for the China pavilion, says this is the first time China has taken part in a universal exposition overseas.

China, with the challenges that being the world's most populous country bring, hopes to demonstrate its concerns about and achievements in agriculture, and share its practical farming methods and technologies with the world.

Following the success of the Shanghai Expo 2010, and particularly China's pavilion there, the pavilion in Milan takes in traditional Chinese architecture as well as modern design ideas to produce what is said to resemble "wheat waves".

Wang says: "The task of the China pavilion is to offer a unique experience for visitors, as protagonists, increasing their awareness of and seeking their participation in the drive for the right to food that is healthy, safe and sufficient, the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the food chain, as well as the preservation of taste and of food culture."

The pavilion covers 4,590 square meters, making it the second largest self-constructed pavilion after the German one.

The expo site is about 15 kilometers from Milan and covers about one square kilometer.

China has five main exhibition areas - under the headings of introduction, sky, earth, humanity and harmony - showing the country's concept of agriculture and food through exhibits and a simulated model farm.

The Italian government decided in 2011 to invite to the expo all member states of the United Nations and to open the fair's doors to non-governmental organizations and companies as key stakeholders in the global debate on the challenges related to nutrition and food.

All participants, who will use a wide range of methods and with varying aims, will be called on to interpret and contribute to the expo under themes such as "Feeding the planet" and "Energy for life".

"This is the first time that China will have two subsidiary pavilions for businesses, the China Corporate United Pavilion and the Vanke Pavilion," Wang says. Vanke of Shenzhen is one of China's largest property developers.

China will be present in the three pavilions, which are separate but interconnected. In the two business pavilions, the country's companies will present themselves to the world.

"Seeds of China" in the Corporate United Pavilion, upholds the ideals of conserving natural resources and food security.