News
Shanghai EXPO closed with a bang
After 6 months or to be precise 184 days, the Shanghai EXPO was completed on October 31st. According to the officials, 73 million people visited this event; this is a new record and surpassing the 64 million visitors that saw the EXPO in Osaka back in 1970. The Estonia Pavilion in Shanghai hosted 2.230.000 visitors.
In front of a crowd of 8,000 exited spectators at the Culture Center, the Expo closed with a bang as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Vice Premier Wang Qishan, Jean-Pierre Lafon, president of the International Exhibitions Bureau BIE (the World Expo supervising body), and other celebrities added their light to the night.
China’s Vice Premier Wang Qishan said the Expo brought China and the rest of the world closer together, opening an even brighter future for all. "I am convinced that the vision of 'Better City, Better Life' will become reality," said Wang.
Jean-Pierre Lafon, president of the World Expo supervising body the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE), said the Shanghai World Expo was an "astounding success."
In additional to Chinese political heavyweights, Shanghai-born hurdler Liu Xiang, actor Jackie Chan and singer Andy Lau, all joined the closing ceremony celebrations.
The Estonia pavilion as well held an EXPO closing party joined by the pavilion staff, representatives from Estonia Enterprise, BIE, Chinese cooperation partners, local Estonians and pavilion friends. During the evening, Commissioner General Toomas Tiivel expressed his gratitude to the pavilion’s staff, which dealt with a big load of work and a large number of people during the past 6 month.
Starting November 1st, the dismantling of more than 200 foreign and corporate pavilions began. Five buildings will remain: the China Pavilion, the Culture Center, the Expo Center, the Theme Pavilion, as well as the Expo Boulevard. In the near future, the 5.28 km2 large EXPO site will embrace exhibition and conference centers, hotels, residential complexes and recreation areas.
09.11.2010 | Read more »
“Study in Estonia” workshops in Shanghai and at the Estonia EXPO Pavilion
During the four days of the 20th to the 23rd of October, 5 workshops were taught in Shanghai by Professors from Tartu University, Tallinn University, Estonian Academy of Art and Tallinn University of Technology.
The Animation workshop that was lead by one of the best animators of the world, Professor Priit Pärn, took place at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (USST). Students saw Priit Pärn’s new films, as well as, had the possibility to try the sand animation film making technique, assisted by the animator Olga Pärn.
The Cyber Security, Software Engineering, Semiotics, as well as the Film Making workshops were held in the Estonian Pavilion at Shanghai EXPO. The VIP area of the pavilion, which is not open to regular visitors, was turned into a real university ambient – two fully technology and computer equipped classrooms were provided.
The Cyber Security students had the possibility to see how common programming mistakes lead to vulnerability, and learned how to fix such mistakes. Film workshop students created their own EXPO films, spending the whole day with their cameras within the EXPO area. All professors from Estonia valued this great experience of sharing information and ideas with young Chinese people in their fields.
Altogether, more than 100 students from USST, Shanghai University, Tongji University, Fudan University, East China Normal University as well as from Nanjing Art University were taking part in the these workshops held by Estonian universities.
The workshops were free of charge for students, including the entrance tickets to the EXPO2010. The goal of the workshops was to create links between the universities of these two countries – China and Estonia – and to introduce Estonian high quality higher education. From each workshop the best student was selected and invited to Estonia with his or her leading professor. The one–week visit is planned for spring 2011. Chinese students will visit Estonian universities, meet students and professors. Accommodation and travel tickets will be covered by Estonia.
Sigrid Lainevee
Study in Estonia Project Director
Shanghai EXPO 2010
09.11.2010 | Read more »
Estonia EXPO Pavilion received its 2.000.000th visitor
12th, the Estonian Pavilion welcomed its 2.000.000th visitor, who turned out to be the 72 years old previous pediatrician Li An Bo from Shanghai. The old lady arrived to the pavilion at 6 in the evening, just in time to attend the daily choir karaoke.
Li An Bo had heard about Estonia before, and she knew that it is located in Europe. The Estonian Pavilion gave her a gift bag with the pavilion’s souvenirs and information materials about the country. Li An Bo, who loves chocolate, was most happy about the chocolate box from the Estonian candy company Kalev. She also praised the famous Estonian liqueur Vana Tallinn that she got served.
The 2 millionth visitor participated in the choir karaoke. Before leaving, she made an entry with a beautiful calligraphic handwriting into the pavilion’s guest book: „It is a big honor for me to be the 2 millionth visitor of the Estonia Pavilion. Thank you for your hospitality. Chinese people welcome you to China. If possible, I would like to visit Estonia. Thank you!"
09.11.2010 | Read more »
CEIBS EMBAs’ Visit of the Estonian Pavilion
In the pleasant sunshine and breeze of the morning of October 10th, we began our eagerly awaited tour at the EXPO 2010. We were without doubt a big group of around 60 people; all of which are CEIBS International EMBA students, top level managers, and their families.
Our first and most important stop was at the Estonian Pavilion, where the Technical Director Mr. Tarmo Haud and his assistant Tanel Ainla caught everybody’s interest in presenting Estonia’s highly efficient and environmental friendly e-system, which enables a safe and fast data collection via e-school, e-government, e-hospital, e-police, and other e-systems.
Thereafter, many of us enthusiastically selected one of the famous “pigs” in the pavilion for their suggestion on how to improve life within their cities.
Later during the day, after visiting as well pavilions from Britain, Spain, France, United Arabs, Tianjin, Taiwan and the Yunnan pavilion, we returned to the Estonian hospitality to join the cheerful karaoke. We were pleasantly surprised to hear both, familiar Chinese songs and exotic Estonian melodies. Program Director Ms. Anneli Vilu joined us for the karaoke. Her beautiful voice and people’s happy faces enlightened us how merry Estonian people are, carrying forward their tradition of singing together. We experienced how magical it can be when smiles appeared like flowers on the faces of people, who just met for the first time joining the karaoke.
We finished the tour joyfully and everybody found it a well worthy Sunday trip.
Shelly FANG
Class Coordinator for 2009 International EMBA Class
09.11.2010 | Read more »
Estonian Association of Designers organized a mission to China
The Estonian Designers´ mission to China took place from October 4th until October 17th, 2010. The Designers visited the cities of Shanghai and Hangzhou, where at their presence the exhibition Astonishing Estonia was opened. Moreover, several business meetings were held at the Enterprise Estonia Shanghai office, as well as, at various design organizations, companies and museums.
On October 8th, a seminar covering the possibilities of different design services for the Chinese market was carried out at the Estonian EXPO pavilion. Representatives of three leading Chinese design companies gave a presentation about the market conditions in China, while presenting the work of designers in China. At the roundtable talks the Estonian designers took the chance to present their own works. The Chinese specialists were particularly impressed by our furniture designers’ work and complimented that these models are definitely comparable with the best Scandinavian models.
At the same evening, the exhibition Astonishing Estonia was opened in the Estonian EXPO Pavilion. In the exhibition, a selection of the plywood furniture, tables-chairs and lamps, as well as park benches in a city environment were presented. All items are depicted as miniature models with printed background posters on the walls. The exhibition was opened by the Commissioner General of the Estonian Pavilion at the EXPO Toomas Tiivel, the exhibition curator Tõnis Vellama and the representative of the Estonian Association of Designers Ilona Gurjanova. Present at the opening ceremony were several representatives of the local design companies, art critics from Shanghai’s art and design museums, colleagues from other pavilions and representatives from Tallinn’s twin city Hangzhou.
09.11.2010 | Read more »