As the one-year countdown to the opening of Expo 2027 Belgrade approaches, the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE), Expo 2027 doo Belgrade and the World Expo Museum (WEM) jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Shanghai on May 7 on the participation of the WEM in Expo 2027 Belgrade.

It is the first time that WEM has signed a participation MoU in its home city of Shanghai, reflecting the international community's recognition of Shanghai's status as an expo city and highlighting the museum's influential role as a bridge within the global expo community.

The specialized Expo 2027, hosted by Belgrade, will be held from May 15 to Aug 15 in 2027, in the Serbian capital, under the theme "Play for Humanity — Sport and Music for All." To date, 137 countries have confirmed their participation.

Jointly established by the Shanghai Municipal Government and the BIE, WEM is the only official museum and documentation center authorized by the BIE. Since its establishment in 2011, it has participated in five consecutive overseas expos, serving as a unique platform to showcase Shanghai's global appeal, preserve expo heritage and promote international cultural exchange.

At Expo 2025 in Osaka, WEM welcomed 2.6 million visitors and achieved media exposure in the tens of millions.

At Expo 2027 in Belgrade, WEM will establish an independent pavilion in the Best Practice Area (art and museum section), featuring approximately 330 square meters of dedicated exhibition space. The exhibition will align closely with the theme of Expo 2027 Belgrade, combining immersive experiences with rich content.

Centered on music, sports, and expo cities, it adopts "flowing lines" as its overarching design language to create a unified narrative. The exhibition will present the expo as an ongoing exploration of future societal models, highlighting its role as a laboratory for future societies.

Dimitri Kerkentzes, secretary-general of the BIE, said: "China has long experience in expos. It not only hosted Expo 2010, but also has had extremely strong presentations in the previous world expos. China is really taking a leading role in trying to drive how the world is working together."

In its planning and practice for post-event venue utilization, Expo 2010 Shanghai has continued to uphold the theme "Better City, Better Life" and has practiced the principle that "a city should be built by the people and for the people". It has since become a classic case study of an expo leading urban renewal, earning widespread recognition from the international expo community.

zhengyiran@chinadaily.com.cn