Pavilion a present

(pley/CS) The Luxembourg world expo pavilion is to remain in Shanghai, one of six to be kept intact after the 2010 exposition.

The steel and wood construction turned out to be one of the highlights of the 2010 expo drawing over seven million visitors.

The building, designed by architect firm Hermann & Valentiny from Remerschen is now set to become part of a centre for exchange between Europe and China, especially in the areas of culture and trade.

At a ceremony on Thursday Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume said the pavilion is “a present from the Luxembourg people to the Chinese people.”

Only five other pavilions will be saved from demolition, including Russia, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy and Spain. Luxembourg's expo building will house an art exhibition in the future, while Italy is said to present fashion, art and high tech products.

The future of the pavilion remained unclear after the closing of the exhibition in October 2010. At first it was meant to go to steel giant Hunan Valin, a company with ties to Arcelor Mittal. The idea to gift the pavilion to the city of Shanghai was a comparatively new development.

The city has pledged not to undertake any major changes on the construction over the next five years. A replica of the Gëlle Fra, the Golden Lady, will however not grace the pavilion, as Shanghai officials had hoped.

The economic interest group in charge of the Luxembourg expo presence will now be dissolved. The public-private partnership has fulfilled its last duty in ensuring the future of the pavilion.