利物浦 - 上海的姐妹城市

世博会浦西园区，一系列城市案例馆展示了世界各地城市的新技术、新理念，然而利物浦馆却以城市文化作为着重展示的要点，用足球和摇滚乐为突出部，向人们介绍城市文化对一个历史悠久的城市的重要性。作为上海的姐妹城市，利物浦凭借世博这个契机向世人展示了如何将城市的过去与将来相结合，在城市的发展中更好地体现文化底蕴。利物浦在文化设施方面投入了巨大资金，它不仅陈列了物质方面的复兴，同时展示了文化方面的复兴，演绎了文化如何推动经济的发展与繁荣，提高了城市人民的生活水平。

Before coming to the Shanghai Expo, many visitors don't know that Liverpool and Shanghai share so much in common. If you look at Liverpool's own Bund area, you will find that it's impressively identical to Shanghai's.

The fourth largest city in the United Kingdom also serves as a major world port. Even though its population is much smaller than Shanghai's, both cities are dedicated to preserving and protecting their historical neighborhoods.

Oliver Hayakawa is Liverpool's representative in Shanghai. He is working at the city's pavilion during the World Expo. He shows me around the site.

"This area that we are looking at here is the Liverpool side. So next to the main city center, we have this new area of regeneration, which they are going to invest up to five billion pounds in. And on the other side of the (Mersey) River is also another regeneration project. A lot of this area is old and derelict wasteland. So it will be renovated into commercial and residential facilities."

Living in Shanghai for more than four years, Hayakawa has a keen understanding of the city. As he has witnessed the huge changes that have taken place over the past few years, he can't help but to begin worrying about Shanghai's disappearing cultural heritage.

"Shanghai is developing at such a rapid pace. The redevelopment of the city is changing so quickly. And because of that you run a very big risk of encountering the problems we are here to showcase, which is restoring your history, keeping your buildings and culture, and making sure that is part of your future development-not just destroy buildings, take them away and build new ones, but maintain the past. So that is our case here. That is something we'd like to share with you."

Liverpool's exhibition at the World Expo uses films and interactive tools to showcase its experience and achievements in protecting its port and surrounding waterways as part of the city's revival. Thanks to this effort, many of Liverpool's historical buildings and areas have been protected and renovated, including Albert Harbor, Rope Walks and St. George's Hall, which have all brought significant economic benefits to the city.

At the same time, Hayakawa shows his admiration for Shanghai's economic achievements and sees great prospects for further cooperation between the two cities.

"Shanghai has been incredibly successful at moving its economy and living standards forward for many people. It's invested in various areas which have brought great success and prosperity to the city. And I think that's something that Liverpool could definitely learn from and be a partner in."

During the six-month exhibition, the Liverpool Pavilion will focus on different themes each month, including "Urban Regeneration," "Advanced Technique[or Technology?] and Science," "Culture, Health and Sport," "The Knowledge Sector," "Professional Services" and "Liverpool, the Gateway to Northwest England."

For CRI, I'm Zhao Kun in Shanghai.