The 158th. Session of the General Assembly of the Bureau of International Expositions was held in the OECD Convention Center in Paris on the morning of November 25, 2015, local time.

Although some member states failed to present due to the terrorist attack in Paris, over 200 delegates from 90 out of the 168 member states made their presence at the session chaired by Mr. Nagy, the president of the BIE. At the beginning of the session, all delegates stood in silent tribute for the victims of the assault in Paris.   

Work reports by the BIE’s committees were reviewed at the session, including the 2015 fiscal report and the 2016 budget report by the Administration and Budget Committee; the registration report for Expo Dubai 2020 by the Executive Committee; the special rules and regulations relating to Expo Astana 2017, Expo Antalya 2016, and the International Horticulture Exposition Beijing 2019; and the WEM’s working report by the Information and Communication Committee.

 
  Photo taken at the 158th. Session of the General Assembly

The session went through the summary report of Expo Milan 2015 as well as the preparation progresses for the Triennale di Milano 2016, Expo Astana 2017, Expo Antalya 2016, the International Horticulture Exposition Beijing 2019 and Expo Dubai 2020.
A flag handing over ceremony was held during the session in which Mr. Nagy and Sec-Gen Loscertales solemnly handed the BIE flag over to the representative of Expo Dubai 2020.

Flag Handing Over Ceremony

A new leading group has been elected during the session as well. Mr. Steen Kristiensen, the Danish delegate has been named as the new president of the BIE while Dimitry has been elected as the upcoming vice secretary-general.

 
Director Liu Xiuhua and Dimitry（the newly-elected vice secretary-general）

Leading the WEM’s delegation to join the session, Ms. Liu Xiuhua, director of the WEM reported the annual work of the World Expo Museum in 2015 to the member states at the general assembly. She delivered a keynote speech concerning the WEM’s construction progress, exhibiting plan, and its participation at Expo Milan 2015. She also mentioned that an international design team was built thanks to the integration of the academic and exhibit resources of the World Expo along with the in-depth cooperation between the BIE and the WEM, which fully demonstrated the authority and international vision of the BIE. Ms. Liu extended sincere gratitude towards the organizer and participants of Expo Milano 2015 for their generous donation. She also report on the WEM’s plan in 2016 and expressed her sincere wish for more extensive exchanges and cooperation with all delegates in Shanghai when the WEM officially opens in 2016.

Liu delivering 2015 work report of the WEM

WEM’s Delegation

The WEM has won great confidence towards its own mission from the session. Moreover, it has successfully attracted wide attention from the BIE as well as the member states. The Information and Communication Committee has shown its firm support to the WEM’s construction. The Administrative and Budget Committee, having given the first green light to the WEM’s budget, ushered in a new practical stage of mutual trust amidst the cooperation between the BIE and the WEM. The WEM also took the opportunity of the session to talk to the Kazakhstani delegates regarding the exhibition work for the World Expo in 2017. The member states gave their best wishes to the WEM and looked forward to a more significant role played by the WEM in the future career of the World Expo.

Delegate of Expo Astana 2017 (Kazakhstan) talking to Director Liu
 
Live communication of the spot