World Exposition in Osaka

World Exposition in Osaka

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (2nd from R) holds talks with Dimitri S. Kerkentzes (2nd from L), secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions, in Osaka on April 12, 2025. The two attended the opening ceremony of the 2025 World Exposition in the western Japan city earlier in the day. (Pool photo)

World Exposition in Osaka

World Exposition in Osaka

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (R) shakes hands with Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions, before their talks in Osaka on April 12, 2025. The two attended the opening ceremony of the 2025 World Exposition in the western Japan city earlier in the day. (Pool photo)

World Exposition in Osaka

World Exposition in Osaka

Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions, speaks during the opening ceremony of the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka, western Japan, on April 12, 2025.

World Exposition in Osaka

World Exposition in Osaka

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (C) poses with Myaku-Myaku, the official mascot of the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Jan. 17, 2025, ahead of the event starting in the western Japan city in April. Standing next to Ishiba is Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions.

World Exposition in Osaka

World Exposition in Osaka

Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions, attends a press conference in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, on Jan. 16, 2025, as a meeting of countries participating in the World Exposition in Osaka is held in the western Japan city ahead of the event starting in April.

BIE head in Japan

BIE head in Japan

Hanako Jimi (L), Japanese minister for the 2025 World Expo, shakes hands with Dimitri Kerkentzes, secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions, before their talks in Tokyo on June 27, 2024.

BIE head in Japan

BIE head in Japan

Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ken Saito (R) shakes hands with Dimitri Kerkentzes, secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions, an intergovernmental organization in charge of overseeing and regulating World Expos, in Tokyo on June 24, 2024, as they discuss the 2025 World Expo, which will open in April 2025 in Osaka.

BIE head in Japan

BIE head in Japan

Dimitri Kerkentzes (R), secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions, meets with Hanako Jimi, Japanese minister for the 2025 World Expo, in Tokyo on April 11, 2024.

BIE head in Japan

BIE head in Japan

Dimitri Kerkentzes (L), secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions, attends a joint press conference in Osaka with Hiroyuki Ishige, secretary general of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, on April 11, 2024.

BIE head in Japan

BIE head in Japan

Dimitri Kerkentzes (L), secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions, shakes hands with Hiroyuki Ishige, secretary general of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, in Osaka on April 11, 2024.

Riyadh Expo 2030 Symposium - Meudon

Riyadh Expo 2030 Symposium - Meudon

Dimitri Kerkentzes BIE secretary General during a ceremony for the participation of Saudi capital Riyadh in the forthcoming World Expo 2030 Symposium, in Meudon near Paris, France on November 6, 2023. Photo by Eliot Blondet/ABACAPRESS.COM

Riyadh Expo 2030 Symposium - Meudon

Riyadh Expo 2030 Symposium - Meudon

Dimitri Kerkentzes BIE secretary General during a ceremony for the participation of Saudi capital Riyadh in the forthcoming World Expo 2030 Symposium, in Meudon near Paris, France on November 6, 2023. Photo by Eliot Blondet/ABACAPRESS.COM

Riyadh Expo 2030 Symposium - Meudon

Riyadh Expo 2030 Symposium - Meudon

Dimitri Kerkentzes BIE secretary General during a ceremony for the participation of Saudi capital Riyadh in the forthcoming World Expo 2030 Symposium, in Meudon near Paris, France on November 6, 2023. Photo by Eliot Blondet/ABACAPRESS.COM

Riyadh Expo 2030 Symposium - Meudon

Riyadh Expo 2030 Symposium - Meudon

Dimitri Kerkentzes BIE secretary General during a ceremony for the participation of Saudi capital Riyadh in the forthcoming World Expo 2030 Symposium, in Meudon near Paris, France on November 6, 2023. Photo by Eliot Blondet/ABACAPRESS.COM

Riyadh Expo 2030 Symposium - Meudon

Riyadh Expo 2030 Symposium - Meudon

Dimitri Kerkentzes BIE secretary General during a ceremony for the participation of Saudi capital Riyadh in the forthcoming World Expo 2030 Symposium, in Meudon near Paris, France on November 6, 2023. Photo by Eliot Blondet/ABACAPRESS.COM

Riyadh Expo 2030 Symposium - Meudon

Riyadh Expo 2030 Symposium - Meudon

Dimitri Kerkentzes BIE secretary General during a ceremony for the participation of Saudi capital Riyadh in the forthcoming World Expo 2030 Symposium, in Meudon near Paris, France on November 6, 2023. Photo by Eliot Blondet/ABACAPRESS.COM

Riyadh Expo 2030 Symposium - Meudon

Riyadh Expo 2030 Symposium - Meudon

Dimitri Kerkentzes BIE secretary General during a ceremony for the participation of Saudi capital Riyadh in the forthcoming World Expo 2030 Symposium, in Meudon near Paris, France on November 6, 2023. Photo by Eliot Blondet/ABACAPRESS.COM

Riyadh Expo 2030 Symposium - Meudon

Riyadh Expo 2030 Symposium - Meudon

Dimitri Kerkentzes BIE secretary General during a ceremony for the participation of Saudi capital Riyadh in the forthcoming World Expo 2030 Symposium, in Meudon near Paris, France on November 6, 2023. Photo by Eliot Blondet/ABACAPRESS.COM

Riyadh Expo 2030 Symposium - Meudon

Riyadh Expo 2030 Symposium - Meudon

Dimitri Kerkentzes during a ceremony for the participation of Saudi capital Riyadh in the forthcoming World Expo 2030 Symposium, in Meudon near Paris, France on November 6, 2023. Photo by Eliot Blondet/ABACAPRESS.COM

World Expo in Osaka

World Expo in Osaka

Hanako Jimi (far L), Japanese minister for the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, and Dimitri S. Kerkentzes (far R), secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions, hold talks in Tokyo on Sept. 21, 2023.

World Expo in Osaka

World Expo in Osaka

Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions, meets the press in Tokyo on Sept. 21, 2023, following talks with Hanako Jimi, Japanese minister for the 2025 World Expo in Osaka.

Meeting over World Exposition in Osaka

Meeting over World Exposition in Osaka

Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura (far R) and Dimitri Kerkentzes (far L), secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions, hold talks at the ministry in Tokyo on Sept. 20, 2023, over the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka.

Meeting over World Exposition in Osaka

Meeting over World Exposition in Osaka

Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura (R) and Dimitri Kerkentzes, secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions, hold talks at the ministry in Tokyo on Sept. 20, 2023, over the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka.

Meeting over 2025 World Exposition in Osaka

Meeting over 2025 World Exposition in Osaka

Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura (2nd from R) and Dimitri Kerkentzes (3rd from L, at table), secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions, hold talks in the western Japan city of Osaka on Sept. 19, 2023, over the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka.

Meeting over 2025 World Exposition in Osaka

Meeting over 2025 World Exposition in Osaka

Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura (far R, back row) and Dimitri Kerkentzes (far L, front row), secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions, hold talks in the western Japan city of Osaka on Sept. 19, 2023, over the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka.

BIE head in Japan

BIE head in Japan

Dimitri Kerkentzes (L), secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions, speaks at a press conference in Osaka on June 6, 2023, about preparations being made for the 2025 World Exposition in the western Japanese city. Seen on the right is Hiroyuki Ishige, secretary general of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition.

BIE head in Japan

BIE head in Japan

Dimitri Kerkentzes (L), secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions, shakes hands with Hiroyuki Ishige, secretary general of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, at the end of a press conference in Osaka on June 6, 2023, where the BIE head spoke about preparations being made for the 2025 event in the western Japanese city.

BIE head in Japan

BIE head in Japan

Dimitri Kerkentzes, secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions, speaks at a press conference in Osaka on June 6, 2023, about preparations being made for the 2025 World Exposition in the western Japanese city

BIE head in Japan

BIE head in Japan

Dimitri Kerkentzes (facing camera), secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions, speaks at a press conference in Osaka on June 6, 2023, about preparations being made for the 2025 World Exposition in the western Japanese city

2025 World Exposition in Osaka

2025 World Exposition in Osaka

Dimitri Kerkentzes, secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions, speaks regarding the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka at a press conference in the western Japan city on Oct. 26, 2022.

BIE official in Osaka

BIE official in Osaka

Dimitri Kerkentzes (C), deputy secretary general of the International Exhibitions Bureau, is welcomed at the prefectural government building in Osaka on Dec. 6, 2017. Kerkentzes discussed with Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui the possibility of the Osaka-centered Kansai region hosting a World Expo in 2025. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo