Letizia Moratti, born in 1949, is Mayor of Milan, Italy. She also serves as Special Representative of the Italian government for the World Expo Milan 2015.

Letizia Moratti

As the city to host World Expo in 2015, Milan would like to send its warm greetings to Shanghai, which will host World Expo in 2010. Preceding us as a host city, Shanghai will be our companion as we prepare for our exposition. On the basis of friendship, cooperation and exchange of experiences, we will march forward in the same direction side by side.

The People's Republic of China is the first country to officially confirm its participation in World Expo Milan 2015. It is also the first big power to conclude with us a reciprocal agreement, which is based on the agreement of cooperation signed in Milan between Wan Jinzhen, vice-president of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and the chairman of the Italian Commission of Foreign Trade and me, in the capacity of the special representative of the Italian government for World Expo Milan 2015.

This is a very important agreement because it will further the multi-level cooperation that has already started between our two cities. It reminded me of the agreement concluded between Milan and Dalian to promote cultural exchanges as well as cooperation in economic planning, management, pharmaceuticals, sports, healthcare, tourism, clothing and various other fields. It also reminded me of the memorandum reached between World Expo Milan 2015 and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

For the purpose of advancing the projects of cooperation between our two cities, we as the host of World Expo Milan 2015 will take an enthusiastic part in the events and activities to be staged in Shanghai, while ensuring opportunities for the further development of these projects in Milan. Meanwhile, Milan will bring to Shanghai its outstanding urban programs, colourful culture and latest high-tech achievements.

With an eye focused on creation, we will bring to Shanghai each and every of our latest achievements in science, technology and culture.

Only days after the announcement that it has won the bid for hosting the World Expo in 2015, Milan was picked by an international panel as a Best Urban Practice Area for World Expo 2010 Shanghai China, beating hundreds of world-renowned metropolises including London, Paris, Madrid and Hong Kong. The pick has revealed the relationship of close cooperation between the two great events.

In recent months, Milan and Shanghai have cooperated closely with each other in their endeavours. Through such cooperation, the two great events have been brought even closer to each other. We may say with certainty today that the paths followed for World Expo 2010 Shanghai China and World Expo Milan 2015 are closely linked and successive to each other in terms of both space and time because, playing the role of bridging the East and the West, the two host cities have set promotion of global development as their common goal.

As one of the Best Urban Practice Area in the world to be presented at World Expo 2010 Shanghai China, Milan has set up a marvelous pavilion symbolizing urban life. It will be fruitful to participate in the coming exposition this way because it provides a rare opportunity to both showcase and share the ways and styles of Italy, and to learn from others.

Milan will participate in World Expo 2010 Shanghai China by focusing on the theme of creating a new source of energy through innovation. To present Milan, we will orchestrate a series of great cultural activities including performances by the orchestra of the La Scala Theatre, vocal concerts featuring Giovanni Sollima, as well as Arlecchino, "Six Characters in Search of an Author" and other traditional, marvelous shows by some smaller theatres. We will also show visitors the most advanced designs and buildings expressing the feelings and affections of a creative Milan, and we will treat visitors to the gourmet creations by some of our greatest cooks including Sadler, Cracco, Berton, Aimo, Nadia, Marchesi and Oldani.

Milan will also bring to Shanghai its academics, entrepreneurship and expertise.

Thanks to our joint work and common efforts, these contacts between our two cities will definitely become ever closer. A countless number of Italians will come to visit World Expo 2010 Shanghai China, and an equal number of Chinese will travel to Italy to see World Expo Milan 2015.

In order to once again serve as the beacon guiding Eastern and Western cultural progress and development and to illuminate the present and future of mankind, China and Italy as two ancient countries with time-honoured civilizations have well prepared themselves, through World Expo 2010 Shanghai China and World Expo Milan 2015 respectively, to share each other's potential and advantages and to play a vital role in global development.

As its partner and collaborator, Milan wishes Shanghai plain sailing in all its work for the coming exposition. It is our belief that Shanghai and the Chinese people will surely achieve the great success that is their due for their close attention to detail, their open-mindedness, and their warmth and hospitality. Milan and the exposition it is to host, meanwhile, will move forward side by side with Shanghai through its friendliness, enthusiastic participation, and cooperation.

(en.expo2010.cn February 1, 2010)

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