05/06/2008
Inaugural ceremony of the Einstein statue in the heart of Shanghai with the participation of JCDecaux

The city of Shanghai has honoured, 5 June 2008, Albert Einstein by  an inaugural ceremony of a statue of the Nobel prize of Physics, in the city’s most popular promenade, the Bund.

This event took place in the presence of the Mayor of Shanghai, Han Zheng, the chancellor Gerhard Schröder, and Jean-Charles Decaux, Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive Officer of JCDecaux.

JCDecaux wished to join the construction of the Einstein statue, a powerful symbol of universal excellence and human progress, in the city of Shanghai, where the Group started operations in 2004.

The Group took part in this project by a financial contribution to the realization of the statue to show his deeply attachement of the city of Shanghai, which is twinned not only with Marseilles, where the Group is established with street furniture and bicycles, but also with Hambourg, the 1st  German city where under the leadership of Jean-François Decaux, our company began its activities in 1982.

The Mayor of Shanghai took the opportunity to recall the time when Albert Einstein visited Shangai in November 1922, where he was informed that he would be awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.

“In visiting Shanghai in 1922, Albert Einstein forged a special link between Europe and China which we have not forgotten and which we shall continue to foster in the future” said the Mayor of Shanghai.

In his speech, the former chancellor Gerhard Schröder paid tribute to Albert Einstein as an outstanding scientist of the 20th century and a person who was respected throughout the world for his vigorous campaign for peace and humanism.

During the inaugural ceremony, Jean-Charles Decaux said:

“I am deeply honored, to be here today as the representative of the JCDecaux Group  at the  inauguration of this magnificent statue of Albert Einstein in one of the finest locations in your city. I am particularly touched by this honor because in our day-to-day work, JCDecaux is committed to enriching city life throughout the world – in particular the cities of the 54 countries where we are present. You have provided us with an outstanding opportunity today - the unveiling of this statue of Albert Einstein, a powerful symbol of universal excellence and human progress. Our contribution to this joint work offers further testimony to the close relationship we have forged with your city. JCDecaux first started operations in continental China in 2004 by teaming up with local partners to manage the outdoor advertising in Shanghai’s airports. (…)

If the bonds between Shanghai and JCDecaux are clear and self-evident, what can be said of the link between Albert Einstein and JCDecaux? Our lives and those of people worldwide  have been radically transformed by his work. We have all benefited from the fantastic discoveries made by this man of genius including the theory of relativity and the photoelectric effect. It was in this very city in 1922  that Albert Einstein learned he had won the Nobel peace prize. (…)

Lastly, I shall conclude with a quotation from Albert Einstein that I would like to share with you all because it seems to me to be particularly appropriate to our times: “Imagination is more important than