SHANGHAI, China (via PLDT) – President Arroyo’s attendance this Wednesday, June 9, 2010, at the World Expo 2010 will sum up her success in diplomatic and trade missions undertaken during her nine-year presidency, Malacañang said Tuesday.

In her last foreign trip before she hands over the leadership to the next President on June 30, Mrs. Arroyo will grace the opening of the Philippine Pavilion in the Shanghai Expo in China, considered the largest international trade and technology festival in the world.

The opening of the country’s pavilion coincides with the celebration this month of the 35th Philippines-China Diplomatic Ties and 9th Philippines- China Friendship Day.

“The opening of the country’s pavilion for Shanghai Expo 2010 will mark the participation of countries not only with close ties with China but also all over the world from all aspects of life to promote tourism. It also shows what the Philippines can offer to the whole world,” Presidential Spokesperson Rogelio Peyuan said.

“This is a rare opportunity to make the country relevant to all the efforts to showcase the country’s tourism and to improve our tourism drive,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Arroyo will not hold talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao as earlier scheduled, according to a Palace official.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar said the President will instead meet Yu Zhengsheng, Yu Zhensheng, secretary of the Communist Party in Shanghai and member of the political bureau of the Communist Party of China, on Wednesday while on a two-day swing in Shanghai.

“She’s not meeting with Hu but with Yu. She will not meet Hu Jintao although they have exchanged letters. She is meeting Yu Zhensheng, secretary of the Communist Party in Shanghai and member of the political bureau of the Communist Party of China,” Olivar said.

The Philippine Pavilion was designed to emphasize the theme “Performing Cities,” and showcases the artistic skills and traditions, as well as the economic indicators of urban life in the world, said Philippine Consul-General in Shanghai Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez.

With a theme “Better City, Better Life,” the Shanghai Expo emphasizes the opportunity to explore city life as a crucible for social improvement.

The Expo, participated in by 194 countries, runs from May 1 to October 31, 2010.

Sanchez said the pavilion’s façade is a complete wrap-around photographic montage of Filipino hands showing various aspects of contemporary life in all sectors of society and fields of expertise.

“The montage shows that the Philippines is a country whose people understand and value the work of hands. That is to say building a city or a nation is the handiwork of a people pooling their talents, time and treasures into a commitment for the betterment of life,” she explained.

“The Philippines’ strong presence at the Expo is expected to generate tremendous opportunities in tourism and business exchange with

China,” she added.

She noted that outbound travel from Eastern China to the Philippines has been growing at an average rate of 40 percent in the last three

years since the opening of the Philippine Tourism Office in Shanghai in 2007.

“This is expected to grow further with the strong partnership between the Philippines and China travel suppliers, and the opening and enhancement of flight access to the Philippines from key cities such as Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hangzhou,” Sanchez said.

Peyuan also pointed out that President Arroyo has initiated many trade missions in the last nine years, with China as one of the country’s longtime trade partners.

“The President’s attendance to the Expo will serve as a summarization of all her diplomatic and trade missions in the past nine years to invite foreign investments to the country,” Peyuan said.

“This will also give her the chance to become a communicator for the last time as President to attract more investments for the country,” he added.

Peyuan noted the similarity in the efforts of President Arroyo from former Fidel V. Ramos with regard to making use of the last few days in office to go on foreign trips and attract investments for the country.

“There were occasions that the country must also grab the opportunity so is the case under President Arroyo,” Peyuan said.

“The pavilion that we have must also showcase that there is a democratic leadership to talk about,” he pointed out, adding that “the event does not happen yearly that’s why President Arroyo takes this opportunity to grace the event.”

“It is important to give significance and respect to our country because if the President does not grace this event, our pavilion will be insignificant,” he said.

He added that the Shanghai Expo is also a venue for the country to take advantage of the 35th anniversary of the Philippines-China Diplomatic Relationship.

“This is a time for every Filipino to have knowledge of the country’s diplomatic relationship with China. We were even ahead for a year from the United States when we had our diplomatic ties with China. We must take China’s generosity as an opportunity to bring our market to their country,” Peyuan said.

Sanchez also said the Philippine Pavilion not only highlights the economic performance and material offerings of selected Philippine cities, but the Filipinos’ achievements in the field of performing arts are also presented.

“We will present mainly performing arts during the entire exposition, among them are the UP Madrigal Singers and the Ballet Philippines. It is a chance for a number of countries to bring in their number one performing artists. In the Philippines, we have the most famous names like Lea Salonga who is known for Miss Saigon. In the area of sports, we have Manny Pacquiao who contributed a lot in the country’s world map,” he added.

President Arroyo is also expected to confer Wednesday the Order of Sikatuna on Special Envoy to China Carlos Chan.

The Chief Executive will also launch the Chinese-issued joint commemorative envelopes called the First Day Covers to mark the anniversary of the Philippines-China Diplomatic Relations and of the book “A Selection of Folk Tales from the Philippines for the Young Chinese Reader.” (With a report from Genalyn Kabiling)