Newsnomics AJAY ANGELINA reporter |

A delegation consists of eight members of the Inquiry Mission from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the Inter-governmental team incharge of overseen and regulating World Expos from Paris was warmly

welcomed by the people of Busan, the southeastern port city of South Korea on Tuesday to inspect the

country's bid to host the World Expo 2030.

 

BIE delegation consists of eight representatives from Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Switzerland, France, Italy

and Germany led by Patrick Specht, president of the BIE Administration and Budget Committee, has started

their six-day trip to the Republic of Korea on Sunday and enjoying enthusiasm from all circles of Korean

society.

 

South Korean President Yoon hosted a banquet at Sangchunjae, the reception hall of Cheong Wa Dae, Seoul on monday for a visiting BIE delegation and said 'Busan is ready.' 

 

 

"Our government, along with the private sector, is sincerely conducting activities to attract the 2030 World

Expo to Busan so that future generations of the Republic of Korea can dream of a better world and global

citizens can dream of a better future."

President Yoon said "The Busan Expo will be an opportunity to share our variety of experiences and strengths, seek solutions to the challenges we face and yield innovation."

"The Busan Expo will be like a festival that pursues common peace, freedom and prosperity," he added.

 

The National Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution pledging full bipartisan support for Busan's Expo

bid. BIE delegation also met with top government officials, political & business leaders, and other key figures

involved in the Busan Expo 2030 project.

 

 

The BIE delegation arrived at Busan Station on Tuesday morning at 11:20 a.m. by KTX train from Seoul where

the enthusiastic crowd of about 5,000 people was waiting to welcome them warmly. Park Heong-joon, Busan city Mayor welcomed the BIE delegation at the Eurasia Platform as the train boarded, then the delegation was warmly welcomed by thousands of Busan locals including foreigners wearing costumes of different countries

and cultures outside the Busan station. 

 

The people were holding flags of different countries and giant banners with writings "World Expo 2030 Busan, Korea" and "Busan is Ready" that made the atmosphere more attractive and colorful.

 

Eight children dedicated flowers to the BIE delegates at the station, while youths gave a traditional folk music

tribute called "Pungmul Nori" to welcome the foreign guests.

 

BIE delegation along with huge crowd then headed to Eulsukdo Eco Park, the country's longest natural

stream ― some 15 kilometers west of Busan Station where they enjoyed the other performances.

 

BIE then received the second bid presentation from the Bid Committee for World Expo 2030 Busan before

attending a dinner hosted by Busan Mayor Park and other key municipal figures.

 

Today, on Wednesday, the BIE officials visited Busan North Port, the proposed expo venue to visualize the

area’s refurbished infrastructure and received the third bid presentation from the Bid Committee for World

Expo 2030.

 

After Lunch with representatives of Busan civic groups and  directly listen to their desire to host the 2030

expo, the delegates will meet Mr. Cho Seung-hwan, the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, oversees the Busan port. The delegation will attend "K-Culture Night" concert at the Busan Cinema Center in the evening that is

supporting the city's expo bid.

 

On Thursday, the BIE officials will receive the final presentation from the bidding committee and is scheduled

to visit the U.N. Memorial Cemetery, a burial ground for U.N. Command service members martyred during

the 1950-53 Korean War.

 

The delegation will have luncheon with the International students of 20s and 30s studying in Busan and will

join dinner with city and bidding committee officials. 

 

At the same time, the Gwangalli Beach is ready to present a large-scale maritime fireworks display, the city's

efforts to promote its expo bid.

On Friday, the BIE delegation after completing their inspection will leave South Korea via Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul.

The host country of World Expo 2030 will then be elected by BIE Member States, gathered in a General

Assembly set to take place in November 2023, on the principle of one country, one vote.

 

 

Four countries have submitted as competing candidatures to organised World Expo 2030 includes the Re-

public of Korea (Busan), Italy (Rome), Ukraine (Odesa) and Saudi Arabia (Riyadh).

The BIE completed its inspections of Odesa and Riyadh last month, and plans to visit Rome later this month.