Toespraak van de Prins van Oranje ter gelegenheid de Nederlandse Dag van de World Expo 2010 Shanghai, 18 mei 2010

Toespraak | 18-05-2010

Your Excellency Minister Chen Lei, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

I am most grateful to the government of the People's Republic of China, the city of Shanghai and the Expo authority for organising this wonderful World Expo 2010. The Netherlands is proud to take part in these Olympics of technology and development.

Minister Chen Lei, I have warm memories of your guidance, wisdom and hospitality when you hosted our UNSGAB meeting in Shanghai in 2007. In this context, I am also delighted to see another trusted friend, Mr Wang Shucheng. It is good to be back!

Many people rightly see the city of Shanghai as the vibrant economic capital of this nation on the move. It is certainly the cradle of China's modernity: the birthplace of progressive movements, of modern literature and art. Shanghai's authorities, industrious citizens and businesses have played a model role in China's development.

The Dutch have a history as cosmopolitan sea traders, and our home, too, lies in a river delta. So we have always had a special fascination for Shanghai - and perhaps the reverse is also true.

Rotterdam was Shanghai's very first foreign twin city. The close links between many Chinese and Dutch cities, regions and provinces provide a constant exchange of views and ideas. Dutch businesses were among the first to enter China's exciting new markets, and have been partners in its development ever since.

As Shanghai continues to grow as a financial, economic and cultural metropolis, her many Dutch partners are keen to continue and to step up their involvement.
Ladies and gentlemen, the theme of Expo 2010 - better city, better life - is well chosen. Improving the quality of life in expanding megacities is a key challenge for our common future.

Over half the world's population now lives in urban areas, and many of these expanding megacities can be found in China and Asia. When so many millions live in relatively small areas, we need to find ways of improving the quality of life by making cities better places to live in.

The Netherlands, a small country or a very large and green city state in the North-western European delta: unique situated and great partner for China, even though we differ so greatly in size. Over the centuries we Dutch have learned how to deal with many competing demands on a small space. A dilemma that is often compounded by the water that is all around us.

We would be delighted to share our ideas and solutions with Shanghai and other cities in China. And that's why the Netherlands is the only country presenting itself at this World Expo with not one, not two, but three entries.

First and foremost our national pavilion, a model for an ideal city known as 'Happy Street', designed by the renowned Dutch architect Jan Körmeling. Uniquely constructed around a figure-of-eight walkway, it highlights innovative and sustainable solutions relating to space, energy and water.

On Happy Street, the Chinese public can experience Holland by visiting the distinctive Dutch houses along the street. Each house forms a mini pavilion, celebrating aspects of Dutch innovation and creativity.

Our second pavilion is 'Rotterdam Water City', which focuses on water, climate change and innovative adaptation strategies for urban areas. Minister Chen Lei, you and I have a mutual interest in these themes, so I look forward to visiting this pavilion together.

The third in our national trio of entries is the Dutch Cultural Centre in the Jing'An district, which means that our official showcase here in Shanghai extends beyond the Expo site.

The Cultural Centre not only profiles Dutch culture, but also reinforces partnerships and cultural networks between our two countries. Our best dancers will dance there and our best musicians will perform there, while art students will create new work with their Chinese counterparts.

In this way we hope to underscore the importance of culture to cities, and to contribute to the theme of the Expo. Cities should not simply be better, but also more colourful and pleasant to live in!
It can be no coincidence that one of Shanghai's best-loved daughters - writer Wang Anyi - described how once when, feeling lonely and depressed during a visit to Amsterdam, she opened the curtains of her hotel room in the morning.

All of a sudden, she was struck by how much the yards at the back of the canal houses resembled the typical longtangs of her home town of Shanghai. Amsterdam suddenly felt very familiar, she said, and this gave her peace of mind.

Minister Chen Lei, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I hope that the realistic and optimistic moods expressed here will strike a familiar chord with you, too. Let us all look forward to a future of better lives in better cities.

Welcome to Happy Street!