Shanghai Daily news

Excitement about the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai is spreading to the entire Yangtze Delta regions, Xinhua news agency reported yesterday.

The event has historically raised the international profile of host cities, so officials across the Delta see the 2010 Expo as a chance to develop the reputations of cities in the provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, the report stated.

More than 10 delegations from the Yangtze Delta have visited the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination this year to discuss the event, and the majority of the 25 cities that have set up Expo promoting workstation are from the region

Officials across the region are expected to explore more opportunities involved in management of the Expo. A successful event will need the cooperation of the whole delta, which should help improve communication between cities in the area, the report said.

The Expo will require sufficient transport facilities and management in the area, which can help to improve infrastructure.

About one-third of the 70 million visitors expected to attend the six-month event will also visit neibouring cities, Xinhua said.