CRI听力: From Nature to City- Spanish Pavilion at Shanghai Expo

Covering about 7,000 square meters, the Spain pavilion is shaped like a hand-weaved wicker basket. The structure will be supported by an interior steel frame. Chinese calligraphy will decorate the outer walls.

Wicker weaving is a tradition in both Spain and China.

Javier Conde de Saro, Spain's commissioner general for the Shanghai Expo, says the pavilion was designed with this in mind and will serve as a bridge to connect the two nations.(www.hXen.com)

"Our pavilion in China is starting to be called the "basket pavilion." We have attempted an architectural [style] which has a connection to the rediscovery of traditional materials. Our re-interpretation of traditional materials in this case is wicker, as the cover for the whole pavilion. We are trying to communicate our aspect of being part of nature [and] at the same time present modern, daring architecture."

Spain's exhibit will cover three major themes: "From nature to city," "from our parents' city to our current one," and "from the current city to the future one."

Because of the global financial crisis, Spain has reduced its budget for the World Expo. But the country is still carrying out an intensive program of thematic activities.

Conde says Spain will use film as the main medium for its exhibition. Many important figures from Spain will appear on the silver screen.

"There will be plenty of important figures who will be participating. But I think the most important participation will be everyday life. I don't want to unveil all our secrets because I have to reserve something for Shanghai."

Conde says information about the cinematic presentations is confidential and will not be disclosed until the end of the year.

The Spain pavilion will also offer a wide range of cultural programs.

"We will be presenting an important cultural program which will have several highlights. One of them will be our emphasis on gastronomy and cooking, where we are also one of the important countries in the world. We will be presenting exhibitions, music, photography, a few of the most important aspects of culture."

Many technological inventions and advancements will be on display at the Expo. The technological co-operation between China and Spain has increased significantly in recent years. Nowadays, China is Spain's sixth most important trade partner in the fields of telecommunications and renewable energy.

The Spain pavilion will prominently feature technology.

"There are a number of activities in which were we are prominent in the world. Therefore, we'll be touching on those, of course. For example, renewable energies and urban technologies, where we are a highly developed country in that sense."

Conde says although the construction of the Spain pavilion has been slightly delayed, in general it is still on schedule.

"It's a difficult thing to finish our pavilion and so on, but I think basically we are on time. Perhaps we are a little delayed at this moment, but I'm sure we'll recover that before the end of the year."

Chinese Premier Wen Jiaobao recently said "Spain is a trusting and safe ally of China". And the economic and political relations between the two countries will continue to grow.

Conde said Spain needs to take advantage of the mutual opportunities it affords. In this way, the Shanghai World Expo will become a keystone for Spain.