Relying on its experience hosting the special World Exposition in 1998, Portugal signed two memorandums of cooperation with Shanghai Friday to support the city as host of the World Expo 2010.

Visiting portuguese President Jorge Sampaio and Mayor of Shanghai Municipality Han Zheng attended the signing ceremony after their meeting in Jinjiang Grand Hall.

The first memorandum was signed between the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination and Portugal's Expo'98 group. And the other was between Shanghai World Expo Co and the Portuguese-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

"We have decided to establish a consulate general in Shanghai to tighten our economic ties with China and Shanghai in particular," Sampaio told Mayor Han Zheng Friday.

According to the memorandum between the city and the Portuguese-Chinese Chamber, the latter promised to "promote in various forms the importance of the Shanghai Expo among Portuguese entrepreneurs." For instance, the chamber will promote the Expo through its publication "Infochina Bulletin" and its Website, which will be linked to the city's official Expo 2010 portal.

According to the other memorandum, Portugal will share its experience in hosting the special World Expo '98 with officials from Shanghai. The two sides planned to cooperate on such areas as gardening planning, exhibition hall design, after-expo use of exhibition equipment and other relevant business planning, project management, personnel training and ticket strategy. 

The World Expo will be held in Shanghai from May 1 to Oct. 31 in 2010 with a theme of "better city, better life." 

(Shanghai Daily, Xinhua January 15, 2005)