Web and recycling on agenda

By Yan Zhen  |   2008-6-27  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

TAIPEI will have two exhibitions - its wireless city and its recycling promotions - showcased in Shanghai for its contribution to the 2010 World Expo.

Yesterday visiting Taipei Mayor, Hau Lung-bin, and his local counterpart Han Zheng, exchanged ideas after the Taipei Mayor signed an expo participation contract.

Taipei is the only city that has had both of its exhibition proposals selected, according to Zhou Hanmin, vice director of the Shanghai Expo Coordination Bureau.

"I feel honored that Taipei didn't miss out on such a grand and exciting international event," Hau said.

"I want Taipei to not only show itself to the world during the expo, but also to forge an interactive relationship with Shanghai so that the two cities can enjoy a win-win with exchange and cooperation."

Since public recruitment for the expo's "best urban practice cases" was launched last year, the expo organizing committee has received 106 proposals from 87 cities all over the world.

For its wireless city exhibition, Taipei will showcase how it built up a wireless network that lets people attend to day-to-day tasks via the Internet. "Our slogan is 'use the net, not the street' so that we can save public space to ease pressures such as traffic," Hau said.

Taipei is also aiming at a complete recycling of resources and "zero burial of garbage" by 2010 .

Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng said environmental protection, together with traffic and housing issues, are problems that challenge big cities such as Taipei and Shanghai in the modern world.

"We should share our experiences and join hands to face the challenges together," Han told his Taipei counterpart.

Planning, construction and operation of the two Taipei exhibitions will be funded by Taiwanese multi-millionaire Kuo Tai-ming's Hon Hai Education Foundation, Hau revealed.

Hau will end his Shanghai visit by taking the Maglev train to Pudong International Airport this morning.