PARIS, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The France-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) said on Thursday that World Expo 2020, to be organized in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, will welcome all the countries of the world, "genuinely reflecting the universal spirit of World Expos."
"The BIE is happy to have contributed to achieving this important milestone for World Expos by continuously encouraging inclusivity to ensure that no one is denied the opportunity to contribute to human progress," Vicente G. Loscertales, BIE's secretary general, said in a press release.
"World Expos have been the showcase of innovation and inspiration to all humankind. By inviting all countries of the world to take part, including the State of Israel, the organizers of Expo 2020 are genuinely reflecting the universal spirit of World Expos," he said.
Under the theme "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future," Dubai will host the World Expo between Oct. 20, 2020 and April 10, 2021. The next one will be organized in Japan in 2025, where the host aims at "Designing Future Society for Our Lives."
In 2015, the World Expo was held in Milan, Italy.
World Expos, known officially as International Registered Exhibitions, are organised every five years and can last up to six months.
