Nations unveil pavilions as 2010 fair nears

BEIJING, May 2 -- Several foreign countries participating in the Shanghai 2010 World Expo celebrated the one-year countdown to the event Friday by unveiling their pavilion designs, starting pavilion construction or organizing other special activities.

Chile unveiled its pavilion design after the country's president, Michelle Bachelet, announced that the South American nation would build an independent display.

Chile is the only country from that continent to commit to its own pavilion, which will be named "the Seed of the New City" and cover 2,000 square meters.

The pavilion will be composed of several cylinders in silver and brown merging with one another and feature a roof garden, according to an artist's rendition released yesterday.

Austria began construction of its pavilion yesterday afternoon. The structure, also about 2,000 square meters in size, will take visitors on a journey through snow-capped mountains, forests, flowing rivers and urban landscapes. It will display Austria's natural scenery and landmark buildings such as Vienna City Hall under the theme "Feel the Harmony."

France's Expo team said yesterday in Shanghai that it will hold "dream" weddings for 2010 couples around the world during the event, and online applications started yesterday.

Jean Germain, mayor of the French city of Tours, said actor Alain Delon will witness some of the weddings as an Expo ambassador for France. Those interested in the program can find more information at www.tours.fr or 51hahua.com.

Finland invited a top Helsinki DJ and electronic musicians to perform at Shanghai's Muse2 club last night as its celebration for the one-year countdown.

So far, 189 countries and 47 International organizations have confirmed participation in the Expo.

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