BERLIN, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The German pavilion for the Shanghai Expo has a fancy name of "Balancity" that fits so well the themes of the expo scheduled for May 1 next year, said Dietmar Schmitz, Germany's chief organizer of the expo, in a recent interview with Xinhua.
Balancity, a recent coinage invented by Germany organizers of the Shanghai expo, symbolizes a city of balance and harmony. Schmitz, commissioner general for the German pavilion, said he was proud that they managed to combine "balance" and "city" in building the German pavilion.
It was the best idea to "fit the theme of Shanghai Expo: better city, better life," he said.
"First of all, I think the theme of Shanghai Expo 'better city, better life' seems very very good, especially to Shanghai," Schmitz said prior to the one-year count down to the event.
"We, Germany, can contribute a lot to a city of harmony. That means, we are to raise our own ideas on how a city should look like, it should be a balance," he added.
Schmitz said the German pavilion will provide inspiration on how to improve the quality of life and enhance diversity in cities. "You should develop a city in a manner that makes people like to live there."
He said the German pavilion is growing each day, and he was looking forward to "hot time" of the expo.
"Now we are in the phrase of construction. The construction is growing, you already can see some parts of the German pavilion," said Schmitz.
With a floor space of some 6,000 square meters, the German pavilion "Balancity" will be one of the largest national pavilions in the expo.
The pavilion consists of four large exhibition structures. When viewed separately, each exhibition structure seems out of balance. However, the four structures form an integrated whole and achieve an equilibrium of their own. This exactly reflects the idea of balance, said Schmitz.
The architectural design also gave expression to a balance between innovation and tradition, community and individual development and globalization and national identity, he said.
Schmitz said the pavilion "will be ready next year, at the beginning of April."
Schmitz and his team have started to look for staff for the German pavilion, including guides and exhibition assistants.
"We are looking for people who can speak three languages, German, Chinese and of course English. We have found interested young people in both Germany and China," he said.
Schmitz said that to their surprise they received over 1600 applications for 200 available positions.
All the 16 federal states of Germany are participating in tabling exhibitions at the German pavilion, according to Schmitz.
Germany, the biggest economy in Europe and the biggest exporter in the world, will send a large number of industrial giants, small and medium enterprises and research institutes to participate in the Shanghai Expo.
Asked whether the global financial crisis will affect Germany's preparation for the expo, Schmitz said he is confident of government support.
"If the German government says we will participate in the expo, we will do it. I think nothing will happen to Germany's budget and our willingness to participate," he said.
He said his team have signed hundreds of contracts with various companies and agencies.
The German city Hannover hosted the World Expo in 2000. When asked for advice for the Shanghai Expo, Schmitz said it "should not be too scientific or too technical."
He said an expo is not made for a particular group of people, but for the general public, including students, old people and families.
"When you show something, you should make people remember. When they leave, they would say 'oh, it is wonderful', " he said.
"This is the aim of the German Pavilion," he added.
Schmitz expected around 9 to 10 million visitors to visit the German pavilion during the six-month Shanghai Expo, or 40,000 to 45,000 visitors per day.
Schmitz said he was looking forward to the opening of the Shanghai Expo.
"It will be a hot time," said Schmitz, referring both to the temperature and the expo itself.
