City of Lyon officially supports Dubai Expo bid

Whilst the competition intensifies between the different cities bidding to host the Universal Expo 2020, Lyon has just announced its official support for Dubai and hopes to help the city succeed in winning the selection process.

Lyon has had a friendly and cooperative relationship with Dubai for a number of years and is pleased to be lending its support to Dubai’s bid. Through the many economic, cultural and academic projects developed by the two cities, representatives from Lyon have been able to visit Dubai many times and have noted its exceptional development and appreciated its ambitious outlook and constant quest for innovation.

The possibility of hosting the Universal Expo 2020 constitutes an important and natural progression for Dubai, which has made its tourism strategy the engine of its economic reconversion by investing heavily in infrastructure and developing the highest-quality services.

Lyon, France’s second largest city with a key strategic position in the heart of Europe, has strengthened its international profile over the last few years and particularly its historical links with Asia.

For Lyon, Dubai represents openness to the world, an international hub and a gateway to the Orient.

The importance of the links between Lyon and Dubai even led Emirates Airlines to open a direct flight between the two cities last year.

According to Gérard Collomb, Senator-Mayor of Lyon and President of Greater Lyon, “Dubai’s bid for the Expo 2020 demonstrates how large cities can rise to the challenges of the future, which is relevant to Lyon’s own international development plan."

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