China to exhibit energy expertise at Astana World Expo

"Future Energy, Green Silk Road," is the theme of China's pavilion at the upcoming World Expo in the Kazakh capital, Astana, which opens on Saturday.

It's being seen as an opportunity for China to showcase its growing expertise in green and renewable energy generation and exploitation.

The entrance of the Chinese pavilion at the World Expo in the Kazakh capital, Astana [Photo: Xinhua]

The overall theme for the 2017 World Expo in Kazakhstan is Future Energy. It's the first expo to be held in Central Asia and is expected to attract up to four million visitors during its 3-month run.

China's pavilion was finished on May 20 and covers around 1,000 square meters, making it one of the largest pavilions at the exhibition.

The energy corridor in the Chinese pavilion at the World Expo in the Kazakh capital, Astana [Photo: Xinhua]

"Future energy, Green Silk Road" has been chosen as the theme, in recognition of the China inspired One Belt One Road initiative which brings together more than 60 countries in economic and cultural cooperation.

Fang Ke, head of the World Expo division of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, says: "Kazakhstan is a very important country along the Belt and Road and it's in this country that President Xi Jinping proposed the idea of the Silk Road Economic Belt. So, we think it's necessary to combine the concept of the Belt and Road with future energy in terms of the theme."

Future energy featured theater inside the Chinese pavilion at the World Expo in the Kazakh capital, Astana [Photo: China Plus]

During the three-month expo the Chinese pavilion will display the country's achievements in developing and using energy in a variety of ways including multimedia and virtual reality technology.

Among the highlights will also be a simulation of a high-speed train cab and a nuclear fusion reactor, described as an "artificial sun".

Simulated high-speed train driving cab in the Chinese pavilion at the World Expo in the Kazakh capital, Astana [Photo: Xinhua]

Deputy curator of the Chinese pavilion, Yang Hong, says the aim is to showcase China's endeavours in exploring future energy.

"Much of our exhibition is focused on the theme of energy. We have a nuclear reactor model, and a special theater presenting the trend of future energy. With these exhibits we hope to surprise the audience," he says.

"Artificial sun," a nuclear fusion reactor model in the Chinese pavilion at the World Expo in the Kazakh capital, Astana [Photo: Xinhua]

In addition, the Chinese pavilion will be hosting more than 200 activities involving over 2,000 enterprises. They will include 30 international events, such as the China-Kazakhstan Energy Cooperation Forum.

Yang Hong says they have done a lot of work on increasing audience interaction with the exhibits, to help them better understand how China perceives energy development.

Virtual reality experience area in the Chinese pavilion at the World Expo in the Kazakh capital, Astana [Photo: China Plus]

"With regards to the way we are exhibiting, we try to present some information in a more interactive manner. For example, some of our movie clips use virtual reality techniques, so the audience can feel the power of technology themselves instead of being taught by others," Yang says.

Since the 2010 Shanghai Expo, China has taken part in the 2012 World Expo in Yeosu in the Republic of Korea and in the 2015 World Expo in Milan, in Italy.

This year China unveiled a World Expo Museum on the former site of the Shanghai World Expo.

The museum is also represented by a 630-square-meter exhibition at this year's Astana event.