Bernadette Ganilau, director of the joint pavilion for Pacific Oceania nations, on September 29 received the key for the 8,100-square-meter pavilion from the organizer of the 2010 World Expo.

Ganilau and Huang Jianzhi, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, signed the hand-over memorandum.

The pavilion will host exhibitions by Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Tonga, Micronesia, Samoa, Fiji, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, Nauru and Niue as well as the South Pacific Tourism Organization and the Pacific Islands Forum.

The pavilion will showcase the beauty of the Pacific countries, their unique culture and a sustainable lifestyle. Its theme is "Pacific Ocean - Spring of Inspiration."

Traditional songs and dances from island countries will be staged, Ganilau said. She noted that the pavilion is a blend of advanced technology and tradition.

A canoe will also set sail from island countries and reach Shanghai during the Expo to express best wishes for the Expo.

(Source: World Expo Shanghai Official Website)