The Chinese want to buy the Czech pavilion at the Expo along with the exhibits

Shanghai - The Czech Republic is conducting intensive negotiations with two Chinese buyers regarding the sale of the Czech pavilion at the Expo 2010 world exhibition in Shanghai, and it is very likely that a contract will be concluded. Pavel Stehlík, the general commissioner of the Czech participation, stated this today in an interview with ČTK. According to him, the pavilion, which has been visited by around 800,000 people to date, ranks among the ten most visited at the exhibition.
    The Czech side is negotiating with two interested parties about the purchase of the pavilion, Stehlík said, but declined to specify which cities the Czech pavilion could be relocated to after the sale. "We are not far enough along to announce it as a done deal," he noted. "However, the sale is very likely; I am an optimist."
    By selling the pavilion, the Czech Republic could partially recoup the costs of its construction and presentation, which amounted to 170 million crowns. Even after the sale, it should continue to serve its original purpose, as a permanent exhibition of the Czech Republic. "The Chinese are very pleased that the exhibits are interesting, interactive, and timeless. The pavilion should remain as it is - including the exhibits it contains," clarified the head of the Czech participation.
    However, according to Stehlík, the financial conditions of a potential sale have not yet been agreed upon. "Some of the pavilion's equipment will no longer be usable at the end of the exhibition due to the high visitor turnout. It will not be possible to sell it, and it will need to be produced again. Therefore, the price will also depend on how much of the equipment is still operational," Stehlík stated.
    Currently, the Czech exhibition has been viewed by around 800,000 people, making the pavilion one of the ten most visited. On Monday, a record 50,000 people visited the Czech exhibition. "The pavilion has been a tremendous success, and far more people will visit it than anticipated," said Stehlík. "It will end up in a much more worn condition than we thought."
    Stehlík pointed out that managing state property is subject to strict rules. Before any potential sale, the property must be offered to the central authorities of the state administration, and further negotiations about the sale can only occur if the Czech entities reject the offer.
    However, according to Stehlík, the relevant legislation did not take into account the sale of Czech property abroad, so from a legal perspective, the matter is not simple. "I believe we will obtain the government’s approval for the sale," the commissioner declared.
    In the next two to three weeks, the management of the pavilion will negotiate with the Chinese side about the technical aspects of the sale and the scope of the property that the Chinese will purchase. The price will then depend on this negotiation, Stehlík said.