Japan and the Netherlands started construction of their exhibition halls at the Shanghai World Expo 2010 on Friday.

The 24-meter-high Japanese Exhibition Hall, which covers 6,000 square meters, is expected to be completed in mid-December at a cost of 133 million U.S. dollars, said spokesman Hiroshi Tsukamoto.

The hall will use environment-friendly materials, such as a transparent roofing film that absorbs sunlight and glows at night, he said.

The Netherlands Exhibition Hall, comprising of 17 small halls, will cost 20 million euros and cover 4,800 square meters. It was expected to be completed on Oct. 31, said Walter Van Weelden, the Netherlands' Expo commissioner general.

The Shanghai World Expo 2010, due to be held from May 1 to Oct. 31 next year, is expected to attract 70 million visitors, almost triple the number at the Hanover, Germany, expo in 2000.

(Xinhua News Agency February 28, 2009)