A TOP-LEVEL delegation from Shanghai confirmed its belief that Liverpool is the perfect choice for a place in the Urban Best Practice Pavilion at next year’s World Expo.
The senior government officials from China were on a three-day visit to Liverpool to mark the city’s long-standing relationship with Shanghai and its preparations for World Expo 2010.
Liverpool is the only UK city to be at next year’s event in Shanghai, where it will promote how the city has developed and prospered while conserving its rich history as a World Heritage site.
The six-strong delegation reflected on the changes in Liverpool since the two cities partnered in 1999.
Mr Guan Weiyong, deputy secretary general of the Shanghai Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said: “Coming to Liverpool was like coming to a second home. We are very keen to build on the friendships that we have established during our stay here and over the last 10 years.”
The delegation had dinner on HMS Illustrious, toured Liverpool’s cultural quarter, were at Anfield for Liverpool FC’s Premier League match against Manchester United and saw the “Taste of Shanghai” event in the Metquarter.
Liverpool Vision’s director of investment and enterprise, Mike Taylor, said: “This visit has served to solidify and build upon an existing friendship.
“China is predicted to be the world’s dominant economy in coming years, so the relationships that we build now will help to deliver new investment and new visitors to the city, helping us sustain recent economic growth and positioning Liverpool as a favoured friend and business partner for many years to come.”
The visit ended with an event at the Town Hall where both cities stressed the importance of their long relationship. Liverpool City Council leader, Warren Bradley, said: “It’s been a real honour to have our guests from Shanghai to stay in Liverpool.
“We are immensely proud of what we, as a city, have managed to achieve since our official twinning with Shanghai began and the whole delegation was greatly impressed with what they saw.”
