Shanghai World Expo 2010 - Chinatown celebrates Montréal Day

MONTREAL, May 16 /CNW Telbec/ - Mary Deros, member of Executive Committee responsible for cultural communities, was an enthusiastic participant at festivities in Chinatown marking Montréal Day at the Shanghai World Expo 2010.

In addition to a varied program of cultural activities at Place Sun Yat Sen, Montrealers were treated to a virtual tour of the centre of festivities for Montréal Day, held at the Shanghai World Expo site on Friday. A giant screen set up at Sun Yat Sen square featured highlights of the celebrations, including shots of performances by the Cirque Eloize and violinist Angèle Dubeau with la Pietà, as well as views of Expo.

"This resolutely contemporary event, orchestrated around music, dance and circus arts, provides a unique opportunity to showcase our creativity as well as the special relationship cultivated over the years between Montréal and Shanghai. Moreover, Montréal Day aims to underscore the long history of friendship that has drawn our two cities increasingly closer over the past 25 years," Mrs. Deros said.

An exceptional stage on the international scene

As part of the Shanghai World Expo, Montréal was chosen to display its achievements in the zone reserved to exhibit best urban practices. At Espace Montréal, visitors from around the globe may discover the spectacular transformations at the city's environmental centre, Complexe environnemental de Saint-Michel, which has become a true model for sustainable development and urban renewal.

For Montréal Mayor Gérald Tremblay, this is the perfect time to strengthen our ties with China. Accompanied by a delegation of Montréal business people from the fields of education and culture, as well as representatives from the city's Chinese community, he is currently on an economic, institutional and cultural mission to Shanghai, Hong Kong and Guangzhou. Mayor Tremblay's agenda includes a number of business meetings and industrial tours designed to create lasting business ties and to develop markets for Montréal companies.

"This year we can affirm, without hesitation, that the friendship and cooperation between Shanghai and Montréal has reached a highpoint with our contribution to the World Expo, an event we are celebrating so enthusiastically today! This is a golden opportunity to pay special tribute to Montrealers of Chinese origin who share with us the wealth of their age-old wisdom and culture," Mary Deros concluded.

For further information: Valérie De Gagné, Media relations, [phone]; Source: Bernard Larin, Cabinet du maire et du comité exécutif, [phone]