STORY: China's Shenzhen named "Smart City of 2024" at Barcelona expo
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 7, 2024
DATELINE: Nov. 8, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:40
LOCATION: BARCELONA, Spain
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT/SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): UGO VALENTI, Director of the Smart City Expo World Congress
3. various of Chinese companies at the expo
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): CAI MINGYONG, Spokesman for the pavilion of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT)
5. various of an early warning system to deal with disasters such as floods
6. various of an autonomous mobile medical center
7. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): JULIEN PHILIBERT, Program manager at Renault/Software Republique
8. various of the expo

STORYLINE:

Shenzhen, a booming city and leading technology hub in southern China, was awarded "Smart City of 2024" at a three-day international exposition that concluded in Barcelona on Thursday.

Drawing over 1,100 exhibitors and 600 experts from around the world, the three-day exposition focused on strategies and solutions for making cities more sustainable, efficient, and livable. 

Key topics included mobility, public services, energy, utilities, and citizen engagement.

The expo showcased cutting-edge technologies in artificial intelligence, robotics, virtual reality, sensors, and autonomous vehicles.

According to event director Ugo Valenti, over 25,000 attendees from 850 cities worldwide participated in the expo.
SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): UGO VALENTI, Director of the Smart City Expo World Congress
"I see more companies, more cities, more countries that are aware and come to this event to learn, to exchange, to do business, and to create networks that will later help them, when they return home, to become better places. So I think it's fantastic that we are helping to make a better world."

Over 50 Chinese companies participated in the expo, with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) hosting a pavilion that showcased 28 companies. 

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): CAI MINGYONG, Spokesman for the pavilion of CCPIT
"By participating in this world event, we can show China's scientific and technological strength and the openness and cooperation of China's new scientific and technological enterprises with the international community."

Shenzhen was awarded "Smart City of 2024" for its advancements in digital transformation, sustainable development, and innovative urban management.

In response to the recent deadly floods in Spain - the worst in over five decades - the expo also spotlighted disaster management innovations. 

One notable solution is an early warning flood prevention system developed by Swedish company Axis Communications. 

The Software Republique consortium unveiled an electric "pop-up" vehicle that can be configured as a mobile medical center with AI assistance.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): JULIEN PHILIBERT, Program manager at Renault/Software Republique
"You can put this pop-up very close to the citizen, where you need to find a doctor, and thanks to this pop-up, you can have easy access to a doctor thanks to video communication, and also you can do a lot of data checks directly in the pop-up with the help of a nurse."

The expo is organized by the trade fair organization Fira de Barcelona.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Barcelona, Spain.
(XHTV)