名人谈世博：美好城市离不开个人贡献

再如水污染，在50年前，当我还是一个小男孩的时候，我住在瑞士乡村河边，当时工业、农业快速发展，所有的垃圾全部排放到河里，导致河水污浊不堪。现在出生的瑞士人，绝难想象当时的河流是何种模样。后来，瑞士政府下决心治理，制定了严格的条例，禁止垃圾直接排放到河流中，投入巨资清理污浊的河流。整整花了30年的时间，才使河流得以重生……而今，每个瑞士人都会骄傲地说自己的河流是多么的清澈，甚至会俯身汲水而饮，以此来证明这里的河流已经完全符合饮用水的标准。

我对中国处理水污染、空气污染等环境问题充满了信心。但是需要指出的是，时不我待，必须马上行动。

本届世博会上，以“城市和乡村的互动”为主题的瑞士馆正是我们期待与中国、与世界对话的载体。瑞士馆最精彩的部分会是缆车，7分钟一班。从喧嚣嘈杂的都市里逃离，坐进缆车，缆车会带着大家攀升到瑞士馆的顶层，那里有田园牧歌式的等待，有山林、草原以及来自瑞士自然界的声音，游客们从中能感受到平静和安宁。在展馆中，我们还用了图片和各种多媒体技术手段去展示瑞士在治理空气、水污染，大力发展公共交通、可持续发展建筑方面的先进成果和理念。尤其是在绿色建筑技术和科技方面，瑞士很有优势。相信，瑞士的一些好的经验可以供各国借鉴。

上海是一个伟大的、生机勃勃的、日新月异的城市。我每次去上海，都有很多新的发现，带给我巨大的震撼和思考。2008年，北京成功地举办了奥运会，给了世界一个惊喜；我相信，2010年，上海能够更上一层，再下一城，为世界奉献一个精彩的世博盛会。目前，我们的瑞士馆正在按照既定的时间表稳步推进，一定会像“瑞士表”一样精准到秒，按时开馆迎客。

我衷心祝愿上海世博会能够如愿地推动城市更加美好，人们的生活更加幸福。我更想强调，只有我们每个人在自己的生活中都切切实实作出自己的贡献，这个目标才能最终实现。

Another example is water pollution. Fifty years ago when I was a little boy, I lived by a river in a Swiss village. In that age of rapid industrial and agricultural growth, all wastes were dumped into rivers, turning them into turbid filth. The Swiss born nowadays can hardly imagine how the rivers looked at that time. Later, the Swiss government made up its mind to enforce waste treatment. It enacted strict regulations prohibiting direct discharge of wastes into rivers and spent multi-billion francs to clean up dirty rivers. It took about 30 years for the rivers to regain their health. Today, every Swiss may proudly describe how clear the rivers are and may even drink water scooped from a river to prove that it completely meets standards for drinking.

I am full of confidence for China's ability to handle its environmental problems of water and air pollution. I must point out, however, that time waits for no one, so we must take action immediately. This will be a long, complicated process that cannot be completed overnight. Since China will surely spend a longer time than Switzerland has, it must well prepare itself for this mission that requires the unremitting efforts of several generations.

At this World Expo, the Swiss Pavilion themed "Rural-Urban Interaction" will serve as a carrier for our anticipated dialogues with China and the world. The most wonderful part of the pavilion is the cable cars that run every seven minutes. Escaping from urban noises and boarding a cable car, visitors will be brought to the top of the pavilion to be greeted by a pastoral scene with groves, meadows and the sounds from the natural environment of Switzerland that will give them a feeling of tranquility and peace. In the pavilion, we will also use pictures and various multimedia technologies to showcase Switzerland's latest achievements and up-to-date concepts related to treatment of air and water pollution, and our great efforts in development of public transport and buildings for sustainable development. Switzerland boasts, in particular, a cutting edge in the science, technology and know-how of green architecture. I believe some of its good examples may be borrowed by China.

Shanghai is a great city brimming with vigour and vitality and witnessing new changes all the time. During each of my visits to Shanghai, I found many new discoveries that would both shock me and send me into contemplation. In 2008, Beijing amazed the world with its successful Olympic Games. I believe Shanghai will carry the success to a higher level in 2010 by presenting the world with a wonderful World Expo. Today, our Swiss Pavilion is steadily progressing as scheduled and the pace of the progress will definitely be accurate to within a second, just like a watch made in Switzerland. I also hope that Shanghai would pay particular attention to security measures and formulate proper visa-granting procedures for foreign visitors. Security is a very important issue that will involve the lives of everyone.

I sincerely hope this World Expo will, as expected, facilitate the achievement of better cities and a happier life for people. More importantly, I would like to stress that this goal will be achieved only when every one of us makes some practical contribution to it in our daily life.