Hence, Expo'98 aims to:
let the world know about Portugal's pioneering and central role in the discoveries which led to the process of European expansion in the 15th and 16th centuries.
set up a forum where existing knowledge of the oceans and their resources may be assessed.
contribute to the creation of new systems capable of keeping the liquid mass of the planet under control and to preserving the ecological balance by relying on sensible ways of exploiting marine resources.
transform the oceans into areas of leisure and artistic inspiration.