Iraq participates in Shanghai Expo

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraq took part in the Chinese Shanghai World Expo, which will run for six months, the trade ministry said on Thursday. “The participation in the inauguration of the Shanghai World Expo 2010 came in response to an invitation from the Chinese government,” the ministry said in a statement received by IraqiNews.com news agency. “Iraq took part in the fair with a pavilion with the theme “Next City,” which covers about 380 square meters in the Asia Joint Pavilion III, which also houses pavilions of Laos and Myanmar,” the statement added. The pavilion exhibits cultural relics carved with cuneiform characters and a model of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World. It also displays pictures of well-known Arabic folk tales, photos of Iraqi children and replicas of an Iraqi family’s furnitures. In addition, visitors can see a model of a city rebuilding program that is to be launched in the Shiite holy city of Najaf. The Expo, with the theme “Better City, Better Life,” has drawn participation by an unprecedented 189 countries and 57 international organizations. The event runs from May 1 to Oct. 31. Iraq is the last of the 246 participants to open its pavilion. SH (S)/SR 1