Riyadh won two-thirds of the 165 votes (French)
The Bureau International des Expositions announced on Tuesday that the Saudi capital, Riyadh, will host Expo 2030, significantly ahead of the South Korean cities of Busan and Italian Rome.
Riyadh won 119 votes to Busan's 29 and Rome's 17, winning two-thirds of the 165 votes, according to the results of the Bureau International des Expositions.
The Secretary-General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), Dmitry Kirkentzis, announced that "Saudi Arabia won Expo 2030 decisively," congratulating Riyadh on its "overwhelming victory."
Kirkentzis told a news conference after the vote that "this exhibition will be a catalyst for the transformation" of the kingdom.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said Saudi Arabia would present an exceptional edition of Expo 2030.
He added that Saudi Arabia will focus on the Sustainable Development Goals during its hosting of Expo 2030.
"We have worked on many initiatives, and we will devote our efforts to international cooperation, and we welcome you to Riyadh," the Saudi minister said.
These exhibitions allow the chosen country to "show itself to the world" while being a "laboratory for architects," BIE Secretary-General Dmitry Kerkentzis told TV2022 Monde, in April 5.
For example, the Eiffel Tower in Paris was built on the occasion of Expo 1889, the Atomium landmark in Brussels on the occasion of Expo 1958, and the Space Needle in Seattle, United States, on the occasion of Expo 1962.
Expo 2020 in Dubai attracted 24 million visitors. The 2025 exhibition will be held in the Japanese city of Osaka.
The first Universal Exhibition was held in 1851 in London.
Source: Agencies