Shanghai Seeks to Host World Expo

Shanghai, China's economic centre, will submit a bid to host the World Expo 2010, known as "the Olympic Games of Economy, Science and Technology and Culture," city and State officials said yesterday.

They see World Expo as a major international event. State Councillor Wu Yi described the expo as "a special forum to encourage human creativity and participation" and "encourage the combination of science with human emotions."

Yosu, South Korea and Buenos Aires, Argentina are also seeking to host the World Expo.

Wroclaw, Poland and Moscow, Russia were reportedly considering whether to submit bids.

The Bureau of International Expositions is scheduled to select a host city in December 2002.

Wu said the central government supports Shanghai's bid.

By supporting Shanghai, the Chinese Government hopes to work with people from all over the world in conducting discussions and research on development-related problems, Wu said.

Shanghai Mayor Xu Kuangdi said the city's advantages for hosting the expo includes the city's upgraded infrastructure and its growth as an economic centre.

"We have started our preparations for the bidding in terms of organization, information and proposal," Xu said.

Preparations include a recently established national bid committee that Wu will lead.

Xu said Shanghai hopes to host the expo in its Pudong New Area from June through October in 2010.

"But we are confident that with the earnest anticipation of 1.2 billion Chinese people, and the hard work of the Shanghai municipal government and all parties concerned that we will be successful with our bid," said Yu Xiaosong, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.