Saudi Arabia won competition to host World Exhibition Expo 2030
The capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, has won the right to host the World Expo 2030, ahead of Italy and South Korea, Reuters reports
The port city of Busan in South Korea and Rome in Italy also claimed the right to host the event, which is held every five years. The exhibition traditionally attracts millions of visitors and billions of Dollars of investment.
According to the results of the vote of 182 members of the International Exhibitions Bureau, Riyadh received 119 votes, Busan – 29, and Rome – 17. Saudi Arabia needed two-thirds of the votes to win the first round.
The Italian participants were unhappy with the result. On that occasion, the head of its delegation, Giampiero Massolo, said, “This huge result for Saudi Arabia was unexpected on such scales. It is actually no longer about the merits, but about transactions. Yesterday it was the football championship, tomorrow – the Olympic Games.”
As noted by the source, winning the right to host the World Expo 2030 has become another diplomatic victory for the Persian Gulf country after last year's World Cup in Qatar.
Nevertheless, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol congratulated Saudi Arabia on winning the contest, calling the Persian Gulf country a ‘key partner’. He also promised that his country would share resources and accumulated experience to help Riyadh hold a successful event.
