Shanghai Disney resort opening draws world attention
BEIJING, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai Disney, with its unique blend of Disney magic and Chinese culture, officially opened Thursday.
The Shanghai resort is Walt Disney Company's sixth in the world and the first in China's mainland. Analysts expect it to become one of the world's most visited theme parks by attracting tens of millions of visitors a year.
The following are some comments and responses from across the world:
Bob Iger, Walt Disney Company Chief Executive Officer
"This is one of the proudest and most exciting moments in the history of the Walt Disney Company."
U.S. President Barack Obama
"Blending a U.S. business with the beauty and rich cultural heritage of China, this resort captures the promise of our bilateral relationship."
Associated Press
"Despite slower growth, China's economy still is one of the world's best-performing and tourism spending is rising."
AFP
"Disney calculates 330 million people living within a three-hour journey to Shanghai who are potential customers. However, on its first day, visitors came from all over China."
Reuters
"This is Disney's largest overseas investment of 5.5 billion U.S. dollars. The U.S. firm hopes it will offset a lackluster international theme park business."
USA Today
"I have never seen anything like it: Disney's new Shanghai park is magic."