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China Preparing for Shanghai's Bid for World Expo
China is making vigorous preparations for Shanghai's bid for the World Expo 2010, following Beijing's successful bid for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Chinese Ambassador to France Wu Jianmin submitted China's application to host the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai to the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) on behalf of the Chinese Government in May this year. China was the first country to submit such an application for the Expo 2010.
Yu Xiaosong, vice-chairman of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai China Bidding Committee and president of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said at a press conference Thursday that it is a common aspiration of the Chinese people and the Chinese Government to host the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai.
"It will be another important event in the process of China's integration into the world," Yu said. "Shanghai is the second most well-known Chinese city in the world after Beijing, and it has the capability to host a good expo."
The theme of Shanghai's bid for World Expo 2010 is "Better City, Better life." Vice-mayor of Shanghai Chen Liangyu said by choosing this theme, people around the world can discuss ways to solve issues involving urbanization that are headaches for many countries in today's world.
Chen estimated that there will be no less than 40 million visitors to the Expo 2010 in Shanghai in the six months period of opening. Shanghai has selected the Pudong area as the venue for the expo and Shanghai's convenient transportation services and sufficient hotel rooms will meet the demands of the expo, he said.
Dubbed "Olympics in the economic, scientific and cultural areas," the World Expo was first held in London in 1851. China began to participate in the expo in 1982, and joined the BIE in 1993.
Other contending cities for the World Expo 2010 are Moscow of Russia and Ryosu of the Republic of Korea. There may be more bidders announced in the coming months before the deadline of November 2 this year.
"Each city has its own advantages," said Chen Liangyu. "We are confident of our success."
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