Shanghai in talks with Universal Studios to build theme park
Tuesday August 6, 16:09 PM
HONG KONG (AFP) -- Shanghai is holding talks with US-based entertainment group Universal Studios to build a theme park in China's financial and commercial capital, besides plans to build a Disneyland there.
"I know we are in talks with Universal Studios. Both sides (Shanghai and Universal Studios) are very sincere," Wang Ronghua, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai municipal people's government, was cited by the South China Morning Post as saying.
His remarks were made amid reports that Disney was also in talks with Shanghai to build a park, scheduled to open by 2008.
Universal Studios in Tokyo could not confirm what its US parent company might have planned, the firm's spokeswoman there told AFP.
Shanghai's move to build a Disney theme park has caused an uproar in Hong Kong, raising concerns that it could pull visitors away from the territory's own 2.8 billion US dollar Disneyland expected to open in 2005-2006.
The concerns have prompted the US entertainment giant Walt Disney International to pledge its commitment to make the Hong Kong park a success before embarking on a similar project in China.
The Hong Kong Disneyland is a joint venture between the government and Disney and forms part of a strategy to haul Hong Kong out of difficult economic times.
It will be only the third Disney park outside the United States. The other two are in Japan and France.
Tuesday August 6, 16:09 PM
HONG KONG (AFP) -- Shanghai is holding talks with US-based entertainment group Universal Studios to build a theme park in China's financial and commercial capital, besides plans to build a Disneyland there.
"I know we are in talks with Universal Studios. Both sides (Shanghai and Universal Studios) are very sincere," Wang Ronghua, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai municipal people's government, was cited by the South China Morning Post as saying.
His remarks were made amid reports that Disney was also in talks with Shanghai to build a park, scheduled to open by 2008.
Universal Studios in Tokyo could not confirm what its US parent company might have planned, the firm's spokeswoman there told AFP.
Shanghai's move to build a Disney theme park has caused an uproar in Hong Kong, raising concerns that it could pull visitors away from the territory's own 2.8 billion US dollar Disneyland expected to open in 2005-2006.
The concerns have prompted the US entertainment giant Walt Disney International to pledge its commitment to make the Hong Kong park a success before embarking on a similar project in China.
The Hong Kong Disneyland is a joint venture between the government and Disney and forms part of a strategy to haul Hong Kong out of difficult economic times.
It will be only the third Disney park outside the United States. The other two are in Japan and France.