Future cities tackled at Expo 2020 Dubai World Majlis in Shanghai

Dubai - Scale model of Expo 2020 site also unveiled during World Expo Forum

Thought leaders from around the world came together for a conversation about future cities and the transformative power of World Expos at Expo 2020 Dubai's second international World Majlis session, which was hosted at the World Expo Museum (WEM) in Shanghai, China.
The latest World Majlis session, The Future of Cities: World Expos as Experiments in Mega-Change, saw 25 current and aspiring leaders address the future of urban living, as well as the potential of World Expos to influence long-term development in their host cities and beyond.
Moderated by Marjan Faraidooni, senior vice-president for legacy development and impact at Expo 2020 Dubai, other World Majlis participants included Hong Haoc chairman of the WEM; Professor Joan Busquets of the Harvard School of Design and Technical University of Catalonia; and Professor Cheng Jian of the Shanghai Coordination Center of World Cities Day.
The Shanghai World Majlis session coincided with the inaugural World Expo Forum for Development and International Cooperation, which saw senior officials from Expo 2020 Dubai join 350 international delegates at WEM to discuss global collaboration, innovation, design, culture, and economic and urban impact.
A scale model of the Expo 2020 site was also unveiled during the World Expo Forum. The masterplan, displayed throughout the two days of the event, will remain as a permanent exhibition within the WEM, contributing to the museum's content.
Najeeb Mohammed Al Ali, executive director of the Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau who hosted the World Majlis session, said: "As the first World Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, Expo 2020 has the potential to positively influence urban development across Dubai, the UAE and the region as a whole. The insights generated during the World Majlis session in Shanghai will help shape this journey, making a meaningful contribution to the impact of the next World Expo on future cities."
"In addition to the World Majlis, the World Expo Forum represents a valuable opportunity for the Expo 2020 team to harness the power of multilateral cooperation by learning from delegates with experience of delivering previous World Expos, and connecting with the wider international community in a truly collaborative environment."
Expo 2020's World Majlis series is designed to address 21st-century challenges through the long-established Emirati and Arab tradition of the majlis - a gathering place where people from different backgrounds can gain new perspectives by engaging in conversations that matter to their communities.  
- business@khaleejtimes.com