MALAYSIA PAVILION GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY

SHANGHAI, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen and
Shanghai City Council Deputy Secretary-General Hong Hao jointly performed the
ground-breaking ceremony of the Malaysia Pavilion at the Shanghai World EXPO
here.

Themed 'One Malaysia: Harmonised City Living', the pavilion will be
completed by the end of the year.

Dr Ng said the theme complied with the 2010 Shanghai World EXPO's theme,
'Better City, Better Living', as the pavilion would showcase life in Malaysia's
cities.

"When it comes to city living, people want the quality of life. Therefore,
the concept of the pavilion showcases Malaysia's harmony of living in a
multi-cultural society, elements of nature and achievements of a nation," she
told Malaysian reporters at a press conference after the ground-breaking
ceremony.

Hong is also the EXPO's director-general.

Meanwhile, Dr Ng said the exhibition at the pavilion would showcase
Malaysia's various tourist attractions, services and products, and also promote
the country as a destination for trade and investment.

As such, she said, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation
(Matrade) would take charge of showcasing the research and Malaysia's products
like palm oil, rubber, electronics and timber.

The 3,000 sq metre Malaysia Pavilion is expected to receive between 10,000
and 15,000 visitors daily, during the 2010 Shanghai World Expo from May 1 to Oct
31 next year.
-- BERNAMA