Xi: Expo 2020 Dubai offers chance to enhance dialogue

President calls on people of all nations to work together

President Xi Jinping emphasized on Friday the need for people of all nations to jointly strengthen global governance, pursue innovation-driven development and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Speaking by video link to visitors to the China Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, he said the expo offers countries an opportunity to share their philosophies and successes in economic and social development and to enhance dialogue and cooperation.

"This shows the great importance of the expo," he said.

The expo, which opened on Friday after a yearlong postponement due to the COVID-19 outbreak, takes "Connecting Minds, Connecting the Future" as its theme.

Xi said in his message that this period in human history is full of challenges and of hope, and that China's answer to the future of humanity is to call on people of all nations to work together and jointly respond to the call of the times.

The China Pavilion, with the theme "Building of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind－Innovation& Opportunity", showcases the country's achievements in areas such as space exploration, information technology, modern transportation, artificial intelligence and smart living, he said.

China is ready to enhance exchange and cooperation with other countries to seize the opportunities for innovation-driven development and actively promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, the president said.

The 4,636-square-meter China Pavilion is one of the largest at the expo in the United Arab Emirates, the first World Expo held in the Middle East.

Among its highlights are exhibits on the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, high-speed railways, self-driving new energy concept cars, robots and a light show at night, Zhang Shenfeng, commissioner general of the China Pavilion, said in a recent Xinhua interview.

The China Pavilion, named the "Light of China", is shaped like a traditional lantern, symbolizing hope and a brighter future for humanity, he explained.

During the expo, which runs until March 2022, China's 26 provincial regions and more than 40 top Chinese businesses will hold exhibitions, forums and other activities on－and offline, he said, adding that the number of participating Chinese enterprises surpasses that of any of the previous World Expos held outside China.