The Transcipts of the "Topping Off" Ceremony

Ambassador Huntsman:  Tom, thank you very much. 

[Chinese].

I want to tell Mr. Hong Hao what an honor it is to be with him.  He’s an old friend, and we share a common name, as Tom mentioned.  So somewhere back in history we connected by way of common ancestry and family, perhaps.

Also to Mr. Huang Jianzhi as well for his leadership, and all the many people who have brought us to where we are today. 

Let me just leave a couple of messages behind for our friends here in Shanghai.  The most extraordinary city in the world.

First, let me say that the U.S.-China relationship is experiencing a very good and prosperous and positive period.  This is the result of people like Ken Jarrett who was a former Consul General, and Bea Camp who is our current Consul General, and so many other people who for 30 years have contributed to the well-being of the U.S.-China relationship.

I also want to remind everyone that this is a very special city because it’s also the city in which the U.S.-China relationship was born by way of the Shanghai Communiqué in February of 1972.

My first visit to Pudong was almost 30 years ago, and I don’t think anyone could have predicted 30 years ago that this would be here today.

So here we sit, celebrating the topping off of the American Pavilion, and I want to tell you how delighted the United States is to be a full participant in the World Expo.

We’re also delighted to participate because during the months of the Expo, beginning in 199 days, this will be a unique opportunity for the United States to express and to put on display its values, its innovation, its commerce, its science, its desire to interact with the rest of the world.  In essence, people here from all over the world, but particularly from China, will be able to understand our heart and will be able to understand our mind.

So even with today’s rapid advancement of technology I think there is no substitute for people in this country to be able to experience the United States in personal terms.  To meet our people, to understand our values, and to sense our future direction.

We will even have student ambassadors here representing American youth which reflect the next generation of American values.

Third, let me just say that the theme that will be present here at the Expo is one of sustainability, and leaving a better, cleaner legacy that is worthy of the next generation.
So much has been accomplished in three short months.  The progress has been rapid.  The completion of the external structure really does speak to the outstanding collaboration, the patient collaboration between the city of Shanghai, the Bureau of World Expo Coordination, and the non-profit pavilion team.

This pavilion team has been very busy now for two years, but in particular I want to note the kick-start to this project that was provided through the personal support of our Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and more recently our Commissioner General Jose Villarreal.

I also want to congratulate  Phil Branham and others who are leading the impressive construction efforts, and also most recently the inclusion of  Ken Jarrett, who as I mentioned earlier, is our former consul general who has joined the team now as the Chair of the Pavilion’s Board of Directors.

The building that we celebrate today, the topping off of this building, is the result of a unique public/private partnership.  The combination of U.S. government support and a non-profit pavilion group led by co-founders Nick Winslow and Ellen Eliasoph who is here with us as well.  We have received generous support from many of America’s greatest corporations who will be present to exhibit themselves, and through all represented we’ll be able to present the best of America in the form of science and art and industry and our cultural diversity.

But most important is through the work of this pavilion and the 70 million people over the course of six months that will allow the United States to promote better understanding in terms of who we are, and the very exciting and innovative direction that we are headed toward.

[Chinese].

[Applause].

Moderator:  Thank you very much, Mr. Ambassador.  We hope you will be a frequent visitor to Shanghai and then you can perfect your Shanghaiese even more.  [Laughter].

Right now I am very pleased to ask Director General Hung Hao to give us a speech.

Director General Hong Hao:  Your Excellency, Ambassador Huntsman, Ambassador of the USA to China, and Mrs. Huntsman.  Distinguished [inaudible] Consul General of the U.S. in Shanghai, and Mr. Winslow and also Ms. Eliasoph. 

Today we have very good weather and also we have equally good mood.  I am especially happy because in China we have an old saying, if one day we have friends visiting from far away, aren’t we very happy this day?  And four years ago I still remember Ambassador Huntsman and I met as old friends in Utah.  At that time you were still the Governor of the Utah State, and that was a very good meeting.  And I was very impressed about your good Chinese and also your friendship to the Chinese people and the government.  I was also impressed by your deep understanding of the Chinese culture.

I believe in your new position as the U.S. Ambassador to China, and also with your support and help to the U.S. participation in Expo 2010 Shanghai, China, the U.S. will have an excellent presentation and most wonderful presence in the Expo 2010 Shanghai, China.

The preparatory works for the USA pavilion in Expo 2010 Shanghai, China, have been advanced in a successful and smooth manner with pleasant surprises from time to time.  Three months ago on this spot we had only a ground of 6,000 square meters paved by the organizer, and now we find this splendid steel structure finished in front of us, solid and sound.  It has already become another eye-catching landmark in the western section of the Expo site.

In Chinese we have an old saying.  A great task takes many efforts and troubles to achieve.  I believe this is a phrase most appropriate to describe the long and tough journey we have started together for the USA pavilion.  I believe many friends, not only from the media but also from other circles, share with me this feeling.  After such long waiting and with many hopes, and now facing this wonderful structure before us, we are full of confidence in the USA’s presentation in the Shanghai Expo which also deserves more of our expectations.

As the organizer of the Shanghai Expo we want to extend our thanks to all our dear friends who have advocated for and supported the USA participation.  Among them, we identify Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other officials from the USA government along with active figures in business and society and friends from the media.  Also we want to thank you all for your active contributions to the preparation and participation.

Also we want to pay special thanks to our friends from the media for your special efforts made for the USA participation.  We would also like to thank our construction managers and workers for working really hard on the front line to build all the pavilions.  It is you who have brought this great beauty into reality with your hearts, minds and sweat.

In just a while the last beam will find its place in the steel structure of the USA pavilion which signals another milestone achieved for its construction.  We believe that during the next 199 days the USA pavilion work team will keep this inspiring momentum and triumphant spirit to push forward its installation, decoration and exhibit arrangements.  We look forward to more present surprises, one after another.

By happy coincidence and as known to you all, we not only are old friends with Ambassador Huntsman, I also share the same family name, Hong, and that makes us old brothers.

I am even more delighted to see in your new position Your Excellency’s first stop in Shanghai is the expo site which reflects the high attention you pay to the Shanghai Expo and the U.S. participation.  I sincerely expect to meet with Your Excellency more in the coming year.  My old friend and my old brother.

And also I look forward to seeing you more, my dear friends all here today from the USA. 
Once again, I would like to thank you, all our distinguished guests and dear friends from the media for your great support and for the preparation of Expo 2010 Shanghai, China, especially to Ambassador Huntsman and Mrs. Huntsman.  Thank you.

[Applause].

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