Shanghai is preparing for the construction of a Disneyland theme park, but the State Council has the final say, Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng said at a press conference in Beijing Tuesday, March 7.

"We have hoped to build a Disneyland theme park for a long time, but we are not sure when the construction will begin," said Han, who is in Beijing for the annual session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC).

Answering a question of whether Shanghai will compete with Hong Kong for the market if the park opens, Han said Shanghai is willing to cooperate with Hong Kong and has no intention to grab visitors from the Disneyland in Hong Kong.

"We have cooperated well in the fields of economy and personnel after the implementation of the CEPA," Han said.

Ever since the opening of Disneyland Hong Kong last September, many have been speculating that Walt Disney Co plans another park in the mainland, most likely in Shanghai.

But the Shanghai municipal government has refused to confirm whether negotiations were taking place, and Disney denied last month there was any negotiation on the construction of a Shanghai theme park.

(China Daily March 7, 2006)