For almost a century, the vessels of one of the world’s largest shipping companies, Maersk Line, have been frequent visitors to the harbour of Shanghai. A close relationship has developed between shipping company and city, which made it an obvious decision for A.P. Moller – Maersk to join the Danish participation in EXPO 2010 Shanghai.

On Thursday 12 March, the City Council of Copenhagen gave their approval for the Little Mermaid’s temporary exhibition in the Danish pavilion during EXPO 2010 Shanghai. The famous Danish landmark is owned by the City of Copenhagen.

Denmark is now present in Shanghai with an office staffed with liaison officer Jing Ipland. Right now the office works as a centre for construction coordination, but this summer a Chinese communications officer will join the staff.

A section of the Danish EXPO pavilion is under construction in a warehouse in Næstved in South Zealand. The full-scale mock-up is made of plywood in order to test sound and light conditions inside.

Last Tuesday, a good number of representatives from private companies, governmental and local authorities attended an information meeting on the Danish EXPO 2010 participation.

Since 1898, Asia House in the Southern Freeport of Copenhagen has been an important centre of business and cultural relations between Danmark and the Asian countries. The information meeting about the Danish EXPO 2010 Shanghai project last Wednesday is just one of many activities taking place in the former East Asiatic Company headquarters.

Danish companies and institutions together with their subsidiaries in China are invited to use the meeting and business event area of the Danish pavilion at EXPO 2010 Shanghai. The facilities are first-class and offer the visitors a view of the Little Mermaid in her pool.

Tickets for EXPO 2010 Shanghai will go on sale for groups on 27 March and for the general public on 1 July 2009.

Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales, Secretary General of BIE, the EXPO organising bureau, spent a cold February day in Copenhagen where he was introduced to the Danish plans of a possible bid for EXPO 2020. The Secretary General was given a thorough introduction to the Danish EXPO 2010 Shanghai project, and he was duly impressed.

Just like the Little Mermaid, one of Norway’s most famous sculptures, the Sinnataggen (The Angry Boy), may take the trip to Shanghai for the World EXPO 2010.

The Republic of Honduras became the 186th participant to sign a participation contract with the organisers.