"We have been thrilled and amazed to see so many people queuing - sometimes for over four hours - every day for the past six months to visit our pavilion to learn more about Italy. I am very proud, moved even, to have received such attention from our Chinese visitors. These six months have been an incredible adventure, over which - thanks to the hard work of all our staff and the Expo Bureau - we have celebrated and shared the best of Italian tradition and innovation. Some 63 cultural events, 150 business forums, 180,000 Chinese and International VIP delegations, close to 7 million visitors - these numbers give just some indication of the success we have achieved. I am sure that through our commitment to this Expo - an Expo of records and undoubtedly the most important World Expo in recent memory - the relationship between Italy and China is closer and based on a deeper understanding than ever before."

(China Daily 10/29/2010)