The current financial turmoil will have little impact on the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, Wang Jinzhen, member of the organizing committee of Shanghai Expo told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Wang, also vice president of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), made the comments on the sidelines of the 144th general assembly of the Bureau of International Exposition (BIE), which was held at its headquarters in Paris on Tuesday.

"Recently, many people are wondering if the crisis will have a negative effect on the Shanghai Expo. In fact, the Chinese government has attached great importance to this issue," he said.

"We are well prepared to overcome the difficulties, fulfill our commitments to the BIE and ensure the success of the exposition," Wang said, adding that "the crisis would have little impact on Shanghai Expo" thanks to the efforts made by the Chinese authorities to ensure the economic growth.

He also noted that the number of foreign tourists to the Expo which may see a decrease due to the current financial crisis represents only five percent of the total visitors.

Up to now, a total of 183 countries and 45 international organizations have confirmed their participation in the Expo, among whom 144 countries and organizations have designated their commissioners and 164 have signed participation contracts, according to Wang.

The Shanghai World Expo will be held from May 1 to Oct. 31, 2010.

(Xinhua News Agency December 6, 2008)