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Yekaterinburg has real chance to host EXPO 2020

Some 150 countries are expected to participate in the exhibition

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

ST. PETERSBURG, July 29 (Itar-Tass) - Igor Slyunyayev, Minister of Regional Development of the Russian Federation, believes that Yekaterinburg has real chance to host EXPO 2020.

Yekaterinburg, he told ITAR-TASS on Monday, is among the most rapidly developing regions. “I know the local infrastructure and have reason to say that the city has a high degree of readiness for EXPO 2020,” Slyunyayev said.

He said that the Russian side asked the partners to support Yekaterinburg’s bid and received numerous positive responses.

EXPO 2020 in Yekaterinburg can become the first world exhibition on Russian territory. Some 150 countries are expected to participate in the exhibition. The number of visitors may exceed 32 million in six months. The theme of Russia’s bid is “Global Mind: The Future of Globalisation and Its Impact on Our World.”

Other cities aspiring to host the exhibition are Turkey’s Izmir, Dubai of the UAE and Sao Paolo, Brazil. The decision on the venue of EXPO 2020 will be made by the voting in Paris in November 2013.

The world universal exhibitions are held since 1851 and are regarded as events of global importance comparable to Olympics and world football championships. Moscow aspired to host EXPO 2010 but Shanghai then won.

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