Shanghai's top party official told former US president Jimmy Carter that his country's 2010 World Expo pavilion could be turned into 'a restaurant, or better yet, a McDonald's' if the Americans failed to get their exhibit together in time for the fair, leaked diplomatic cables show.
The uncharacteristically undiplomatic comments by Yu Zhengsheng, Shanghai's Communist Party secretary, highlight the level of concern the city's officials had about the US dragging its feet over taking part in the massive six-month fair, and the comments appear to confirm rumours that the Chinese side offered assistance in funding and building the US$61 million exhibit.
'We can take the risk of building [it] first. If the US doesn't commit, we can convert it to a restaurant, or better yet, a McDonald's,' Yu said, according to an alleged dispatch from the US consulate in Shanghai at the time, which was included in cables released by WikiLeaks. 'Please pass this on to [President Barack] Obama,' Yu said, one of several references he made to bringing the matter to the president's attention.
Yu's comments to Carter - described in the consulate's report as 'half-joking' - were apparently made while the former president was visiting the city as part of celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Sino-US diplomatic relations in January 2009, less than 16 months ahead of the opening of the international fair.
Discussion about the US pavilion was 'the main item on Yu's agenda', and he stressed that although 'initial plans have been made, the US hasn't signed a contract'.
Carter is reported to have agreed to raise the issue with Obama, 'while cautioning in straightforward fashion that it wouldn't be his 'first priority' item'.
The alleged cable concludes with the warning that Yu's jest about replacing the pavilion with a fast-food joint 'underscores the potential for negative public reaction in China if there is no US pavilion at the 2010 World Expo'.