Hans Rat, the Secretary General of the International Association of Public Transport, delivers a speech.

Zhao Yali, China’s deputy commissioner general to Expo 2010, delivers a speech.

Hans Rat hands a certificate to the winner of the public transport composition contest.

Hans Rat, Zhao Yali and other guests visit the UITP Pavilion.

The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) celebrated its Honor Day yesterday afternoon at Expo Center.

Hans Rat, the Secretary General of the association, said that the UITP strives to solve problems springing up during urban development and it also has drafted the strategy of the public transport sector: “Public transport: the smart green solution”.

The organization will try hard with its members around the globe to double the public transport users by 2025, he added.

The organization’s pavilion has showcased the safety of public transport, its sustainability and its positive effect on economy, he said.

He hoped that more people will consider and take public transport and he believed that Expo 2010 will be a milestone for the organization to promote public transport.

Zhao Yali, China’s deputy commissioner general to Expo 2010, said that the organization’s pavilion has attracted throngs of visitors with pictures, films, models and games about the 125 years’ history of public transport.

It also exhibits the blueprint of model public transport cities, new innovations of public transport from countries and a look into the future cities, Zhao added.

The pavilion gives visitors a deep impression about its pushes to build a better city with public transport, Zhao said. The pavilion has been one of the highlights of World Expo and will bring to the Chinese and foreign visitors a better understanding of the world public transport organization.

During the ceremony, Rat also handed a certificate to the winner of the public transport composition contest.

The pavilion goodwill ambassador also sang the theme song of the pavilion.

The organization’s pavilion is at Joint Pavilion of International Organizations in Zone B. The pavilion features the history of public transport while summing up experiences and setbacks of its development. It also depicts how public transport changes cities and urban people as well as improves their life quality.