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Shanghai Takes on New Look to Welcome APEC
Shanghai, east China's industrial and commercial center, is ready and waiting to host the forthcoming 2001 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) informal summit.
With a comprehensive range of high-speed development throughout the 1990s, Shanghai now lays claim to the solid economic and social foundation needed to hold an international gathering.
The city's telecommunications department has spent 320 million yuan to improve telecommunication facilities. The Shanghai municipal government also put a huge sum into creating an attractive urban environment and finish the second-phase construction of the Pudong International Airport project for the APEC meeting.
Hotels in the city have been redecorated to add an upscale sheen to the occasion.
The city has taken a number of steps to ensure better communication services. ADSL wide-band connection has been installed in more than 20 four-star and five-star hotels to allow for high-speed Internet surfing. The Shanghai Telecom has prepared more TV transmitting equipment including digital TVs and satellite antennae, in order that more people can be accessible to its TV programs during the meeting.
The municipal government is also committed to holding a "green" APEC summit. During the summit, restaurants will serve only organic vegetables, and wild game will not be on the menus. All paper products bearing the APEC logo are made of recycled material.
The APEC meetings have also prompted many citizens in Shanghai including taxi-drivers, shop assistants and airport workers, to study English so they can better assist APEC guests.
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