Armenia on Display at Shanghai World Expo 2010

SHANGHAI (Combined Sources)–Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian arrived in China on Thursday to attend the opening ceremony of the Shanghai World Expo 2010, where Armenia will be participating alongside 190 other countries and 57 organizations, to present its cultural heritage and modern advances.

The expo, organized every five years, is being held in China for the first time and will last from May 1st until October 31st. It is expected to attract 70 million visitors and is being touted as the world’s largest expo in history.

The Armenia pavilion, named “City of the World,” features an “Apricot garden where visitors can embrace the blossoming apricot trees, taste the unique apricots of Armenia and enjoy the magical sounds of rmenian Duduk flute made of wood from the apricot tree,” the expo 2010 website says in its Armenian section. “In Gold & Silk, visitors can discover many interesting facts about ancient trade relations between Armenia and China, enjoy the unique mastery of Armenian jewelers.”

Sarkisian attended the inauguration of the Armenia Pavillion Thursday at the head of a delegation of officials, which included Armenia’s Foreign Minister, Economy Minister, and Energy and Natural Resources Minister. The Armenian leader will also tour the pavilions of the United States, Russia and China and is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Sarkisian will also visit the Chinese city of Suzhou, where he will visit the Suzhou center of science, culture and arts, the innovation center for science and education, and higher bus factory.

He will then visit the Datun town of Shanxi province to participate in the inauguration of the Shanxi-Nairit joint Armenian-Chinese chloroprene rubber production plant.