65 countries and organizations to join Beijing Expo 2019

The State Council Information Office of China hosted the second press conference concerning the Beijing Expo 2019 on Dec. 26, providing an update to work preparations.

According to the organizing committee, full-scale constructions started this year with more than 4,000 workers from 25 construction units building the exhibition park. Major structures of the three main stadiums, namely the China Pavilion, the International Pavilion and the Life Experience Pavilion, will complete by the end of the year. Constructions of other outdoor exhibition halls will begin in 2018, and the whole park will be ready for decoration before 2019.

By Dec. 25, a total of 51 countries along with four inter-governmental organizations have given written confirmation to participate, according to the media briefing. They include Russia, Germany, South Korea, India, Tanzania, Uruguay, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the African Union. Ten professional organizations including the International Association of Horticultural Producers and the World Conservation Union have also submitted written confirmation to attend. In addition, with their internal confirmation procedures going underway, 31 other countries, including the U.K., the Netherlands, Belgium and Japan, have publicly indicated to sign up for the expo, among which 14 countries have already selected the plots and begun designing for their exhibition halls.