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Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea: 'Where the ocean comes to life'

Taiyoung Cho
1am very pleased to inform the people of Bangladesh that the International Exposition Yeosu Korea 2012 (Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea) is being held in the beautiful coastal city of Yeosu of Korea for 93 days between May 12 and August 12 this year. 106 countries, including Bangladesh and 10 international organisations are participating in Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea.
Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea, the largest-scale marine-themed international event in history, is expected to attract an estimated 11 million visitors during its three month run. The overseas media has shown a huge interest in the event. It has been recognised by CNN as "one of the top places to visit in 2012." The Lonely Planet also recommended that visiting the Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea is "one of the top 10 things to do in 2012."
The theme of Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea is "The Living Ocean and Coast: Diversity of Resources and Sustainable Activities." Yeosu Expo will provide an opportunity to enhance the international community's perception of the function and value of the ocean and coast, share the knowledge on the proper use of the ocean and coast and recognise the need for cooperation in the maritime sector. It will also serve as a venue to learn about the achievements of the future models for the marine sector and offer a valuable chance to promote state-of-the-art marine science and technology and marine industries. The Expo will also serve as an opportunity to seek for the solutions of climate change, depletion of natural resources and destruction of the ecosystem.
As the theme of Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea is well-suited for Bangladesh, Korea has a great expectation for the participation of Bangladesh. Bangladesh has been a leading voice when it comes to climate change as Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Bangladesh has the longest beach in the world, Cox's Bazar. Bangladesh also has the world's largest mangrove forest. This
uniqueness of Bangladesh will greatiy contribute towards raising awareness of the importance of the preservation of the oceans and the environment at large.
Let me elaborate on some of the interesting features of Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea. At the Expo site of 2.7 million square meters, visitors will be able to enjoy various exhibition facilities, events, and performance. The 76 pavilions will help to realise the theme of the Expo, "The Living Ocean and Coast." The highlight of the Expo is the multifarious
exhibitions of the International Pavilion and the International Organizations Pavilion that have been planned by 106 participating countries and 10 international organisations. Korea, as the host country, has six pavilions to show the solutions for climate change, food shortage and the depletion of natural resources — the great challenges facing humankind.
The centerpiece of the Expo is the Big-O. Standing over the water, the O-shaped structure with 35-meter diameter will be the site for laser
shows, fountain shows, and various other multimedia shows incorporating the latest IT innovation. The Expo Digital Gallery (EDG) at the central promenade of the International Pavilion boasts a 218-meter-long and 30-meter-wide LED screen. Featuring a pipe organ on the exterior, the Sky Tower was listed in the Guinness Book of Wo rid Records as the loudest pipe organ.
Through 93 days from May 12 to August 12, Yeosu Expo will present about 400 programmes and an array of over 8,000 events and performances day and night. Also, K-POP (Korean pop music) concerts and other shows featuring top stars from home and abroad will add to the festivity of the Expo. Opening and closing ceremonies, national day events, cultural performances and various children's events are also scheduled. Bangladesh will be having the National Day event on June 6,2102.
Let me conclude by emphasising what Korea is focusing on with the Expo 2012 Yeosu, Korea: a commitment to support developing countries in their efforts to cope with marine environment issues. Korea's strong commitment for developing countries is clearly reflected in the Yeosu Declaration, which is to be adopted at the end of the Expo. The Yeosu Declaration will highlight mankind's efforts to find sustainable ways to develop the oceans and their resources, presenting an international manifesto to build a global consensus in support of the Expo's theme.
The principles behind the Yeosu Declaration will be materialised through the Yeosu Projects, where programmes will
be developed to transfer advanced technologies from developed countries to the developing world for preservation and sustainable development of the marine environment. I am convinced that Expo 2012 Yeosu will provide a valuable opportunity for the developing world to learn about the ways to preserve the marine ecological system and to advance in environmentally respectful marine resource management.
The writer Is Ambassador of the Republic of Korea.