Hong Hao, director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, addresses the ceremony.

Hong Hao, director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, addresses the ceremony.

Scene of the ceremony

Scene of the ceremony

A ceremony was held?Monday at the Pavilion of Future to award the best exhibitions at the Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA). Hangzhou and Rhone-Alpes were among those awarded.

Vicente Loscertales, secretary-general of the International Exhibition Bureau, and Hong Hao, director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, attended the ceremony with about 300 UBPA pavilion staff.

"UBPA is more than an exhibition area," Loscertales said. "It is an exhibit itself and an innovation platform integrating various parts."

He expressed appreciation for everyone who contributed to the UBPA displays and helped to make the dream come true.

Hong said UBPA illustrated a future-oriented, ecological civilization, innovative approaches to development, and harmony between urban and rural areas. He hoped the legacy of UBPA would live on after the Expo.