OREANDA-NEWS. November 01, 2010. The ceremony of closing Turkmenistan exposition at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China, which has been opened for visitors for six months, will take place on October 31.

This is the first time Turkmenistan has participated in this global exposition, which is held once in five years. It is noteworthy that the opening of the Shanghai World Expo coincided with the visit of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to this largest city and the industrial and commercial centre of China. This fact made the large-scale presentation of Turkmenistan’s huge economic, export and investment potential in the framework of the universal exposition particularly significant.

Undoubtedly, the Turkmen leader’s participation in the ceremony of opening of the World Expo 2010 enhanced the prestige of Turkmenistan pavilion where over 30 sectoral ministries and departments and private enterprises showcased their production, prospects for growth and opportunities for cooperation.

Greeting participants and guests of the ceremony of opening the World Expo 2010 President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the forum in Shanghai would contribute to strengthening friendship between the Turkmen and Chinese peoples and enhancing trade and economic relationships between Turkmenistan and China.

Moreover, the participation in the global forum became a new opportunity for our country to present widely its achievements and accomplishments to the international community as well as learn about best international practices in a variety of fields and expand the geography of mutually advantageous cooperation with foreign partners.

At the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai Turkmenistan pavilion occupied the area of over 1,000 square metres. Nearly all sectors of the national economy and the promising aspects of the economic and social policy of Turkmenistan, which rightfully ranks today among dynamically developing countries of the world, were presented to numerous guests and participants of the universal exposition

It is this factor that predetermines a growing interest of many foreign countries, including China, in establishing full cooperation with Turkmenistan where large-scale development programmes initiated by the Turkmen leader are successfully implemented.

The design of Turkmenistan pavilion harmoniously combined national decor elements and advanced technologies. Its rectangular tracery facade ornamented with octagonal stars and Turkmen carpet patterns and decorated with the national emblem of our country caught the eye.

The context and content of the exposition was enriched through applying advanced technologies and multimedia equipment including special monitors and touch screens. Guests could visit the large-scale exposition as well as take part in roundtables and other events that became for foreign partners to obtain the firsthand information about independent neutral Turkmenistan, its economic and cultural potential and the priority vectors of future development.

Numerous meetings with representatives of countries participating in the universal exposition and international organisations were held in the framework of the World Expo 2010, Turkmen specialists visited their pavilions. During these meetings our experts made presentations of the investment potential of different sectors of Turkmen economy, provided the extensive information on the progress in implementing large-scale urban development programmes and grandiose transnational projects aimed at building economic, transport and communication, humanitarian infrastructure on the Eurasian continent. The illustrative examples included the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline called rightfully the project of XXI century. Paramount significance of the Trans-Asian gas main was highlighted during the meeting of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and PRC President Hu Jintao.

The architectural subtext of the main theme of the Shanghai World Expo “Better City - Better Life” was reflected particularly in the bright and extraordinary designs of national pavilions.

It should be noted that this theme is particularly close to Turkmenistan. The unprecedented urban development programme launched on the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in our country in the epoch of new Revival accumulates best national and international practices in this field. Here, Turkmenistan has something to demonstrate. A symbol of changes taking place in the country is the white-marble Turkmen capital that has been turned into one of the most beautiful and comfortable cities of the world due to the implementation of the large-scale urban development programme. It is quite natural that Ashgabat was one of the major objects exhibited in Turkmenistan pavilion and represented at the World Expo 2010 as the largest administrative, business, research and cultural centre of the country, its main transport and communication nodal point.

The large-scale renovation processes aimed at guaranteeing the high standards f living to citizens have covered all region of Turkmenistan including most remote areas. Thus, the organizers and designers of Turkmenistan exposition faced the main task to reflect the mina idea of the forum as well as create a bright, unforgettable image of Turkmenistan of the epoch of new Revival and fundamental reforms.

Every day thousands of visitors in Turkmenistan pavilion could learn about culture and age-old art of our nation, see unique archaeological finds, pieces of jewellery, handmade carpets of unsurpassed beauty made by talented and diligent Turkmen craftswomen and many other high-quality works of art.

Slides and films told the visitors about historical and cultural sites in our country, its well-known architectural monuments inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The exhibits arousing intense interest among guests were books and photo albums about Turkmenistan, the rich history and centuries-old cultural traditions of the Turkmen people and the present day of our country. There were especially many visitors around the monitors on which the films about miraculous Ahalteke horses and the national art of horse breeding were being demonstrated.

The exposition showcasing the development of tourism and health resort infrastructure in Turkmenistan was of particular interest to the visitors. A bright symbol of the state policy in this sphere is the world-class Avaza seaside resort being created on the picturesque seashore of the Caspian Sea on the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The guests to Turkmenistan pavilion could receive visual evidence of this new, rapidly developing centre of international tourism industry.

Thus, the exhibition showcased the production and potential in all its diversity of nearly all sectors if the dynamically developing national economy. The subdivisions of the fuel and energy sector, chemical and agricultural industries, the Ministry of Energy and Industry, the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, the Ministry of Communications, the Turkmenhowayollary National State Service, the State Committee for Tourism and Sport and the State Fund of precious metals and stones presented their expositions.

Turkmen textile products were of particular interest to representatives of the business circles from different countries. The export potential of this industry was a focus of talks and discussions aimed at establishing cooperation. Turkmen entrepreneurs and private producers showcased their potential at the World Expo 2010 and took active part in talks and meetings held in the framework of the global forum.

Turkmen specialists participated in six international thematic forums held in the framework of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai. The roundtables focused on such important issues as the merging of urban and rural environments, urban ecology, use of information and communication technologies to leverage urban development most effectively levers of. “Cultural heritage in the modern urban environment” was the key theme at the Shanghai Expo. According to many experts, Turkmenistan has the profound and useful experience in this sphere.

It is the national culture and spiritual heritage has served in the epoch of new Revival and fundamental reforms as ‘an engine’ of the progress in Turkmenistan. This becomes evident in not only the humanitarian sphere, but also intensification of international efforts, tourism and urban development sector.

All this heightens interest in our country that was evidenced once again at the Expo 2010 Shanghai. Dozens of thousands of guests visited Turkmenistan pavilion every day. Among them were businessmen, who had expressed the willingness to collaborate in design and construction of buildings and facilities in Ashgabat and put forward the proposals on cooperation in production and delivery of building materials. Moreover, an exchange of views on the issues regarding future construction of apartment houses, social and cultural infrastructure facilities, highways, bridges, flyovers, etc took place during the meetings with representatives of well-known companies.

The most number of guests vested Turkmenistan pavilion during the days when our country was celebrating the 19th anniversary of independence. Turkmen artists presented bright performance in honour of the national holiday that created a furore among World Expo participants and guests, who were attracted by original music and unique enchanting melodies of the national musical instruments, folk songs colours of national costumes and generosity of Turkmen dastarkhans.

Since May 1, over 20,000 events have been held at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai. Turkmen artists were active participants to concerts and cultural actions held in the framework of the global exhibition. Art groups from our country presented performances during the opening ceremony and the Independence Day celebrations as well as other cultural events.

…Over 5,000 square metres, over 100 million of visitors, over 200 pavilions, six months of non-stop activity, thousands of bright events!

Indeed, the Shanghai World Expo is an outstanding event providing a splendid opportunity to get acquainted with economic, scientific, technological and cultural achievements different countries of the world as well as a platform for presenting the historical experience, exchanging innovative ideas and uniting people. Before the conclusion of the World Expo, a “Shanghai Declaration” will be issued. The World Expo 2010 organizers hope that this document will be a landmark in the history of world fairs that has absorbed most interesting and promising proposals from its participants.

From a strategic point of view the evaluation of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai is that the epoch of an industrial society producing goods and services is going to be replaced a society of new global ‘knowledge economy’ that assigns a critical role to preservation of cultural and spiritual heritage, ecology, promotion of education and science. According to many experts, Turkmenistan has a positive experience in addressing these challenges, the experience which can be useful for many countries across the world.

Thus, the universal exposition in Shanghai has provided people from many countries of the world with a unique opportunity to get acquainted with Turkmenistan of the epoch of new Revival and great changes, its contemporary achievements and national development priorities and the rich cultural heritage of the Turkmen people.

Certainly, for Turkmenistan the participation in the Shanghai World Expo marks achievement of a new level of successful integration in the world economy.