Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Italy Compete to Host 'Expo 2030'

Italy, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea are competing in Paris on Tuesday, December 7, for the hosting rights of the World Expo 'Expo 2030'. This global exhibition, held every five years, attracts millions of visitors and billions of dollars in investment. According to Reuters, delegations from these three countries have held flashy events in the French capital over the past few months to win the votes of 182 member countries of the Bureau International des Expositions. The cities of Busan in Southeast South Korea, Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, and Rome in Italy are vying to host the exhibition scheduled for 2030. Rome has emphasized human rights and democracy in its bid, positioning itself as a more ethical option than Riyadh, which appears to be ahead in the competition. Roberto Gualtieri, the Mayor of Rome, stated last week at a conference: 'Rome is the most credible city for an exhibition aimed at sustainable development that respects human rights, diversity, dialogue, inclusion, women's rights, the LGBTQ+ community, and unity.' He added, 'Certainly, we have less economic capital to spend than others who want votes... (but) if the money earned from fossil fuel sales is valued above all else, then we tell the world, 'Be mindful of how these events are conducted.' In the meantime, a victory for Saudi Arabia could benefit Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his ambitious goals to reduce the country's dependence on oil. Critics say that Prince Mohammed wants to use this event to improve his country's image following the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, which Western leaders believe was ordered by the Crown Prince.