Shanghai will do more this year to attract global attention to
the 2010 World Expo, a senior city official said yesterday.
The comment was made on the final day of a visit to the city by
Vicente Loscertales, secretary general of the Paris-based Bureau of
International Exposition.
"We will cherish every chance to draw international
participation and support for the Expo," Zhou Hanmin, deputy
director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, told
reporters yesterday.
He said the fourth international Expo Forum is expected to be
held in the city late this year.
International government officials, planners, legal advisers and
Expo experts will be invited to attend the forum to contribute
suggestion.
The city expo bureau officials are also preparing the first copy
of participation guidelines - a working document for Expo
participators - and are planning to complete the guidelines during
the fourth quarter of this year.
Countries that plan to participate in the event will be invited
to attend a conference later this year, Zhou said.
This May, officials from Shanghai will also attend the World
Mayors' Forum in Geneva, to discuss the significance of the first
World Expo hosted by a developing nation.
"The Expo is not just a Shanghai project or a China project but
a world project," said Loscertales.
During his three-day trip to the city, Loscertales visited the
Pujiang Expo Garden -- a new residential complex in Minhang
District for residents relocated from Expo sites.
He also held talks with city officials about construction of
infrastructure, and pavilions for the event, among other
topics.
"I am satisfied with the city's preparation works," Loscertales
said.
(Shanghai Daily February 16, 2006)