Shanghai Daily news

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in Beijing yesterday that Shanghai should go all out to prepare for the next World Expo, which will be held in the city from May to October 2010.

The first World Expo to be hosted by China, it is expected to attract participants from 200 countries and international organizations and tens of millions of visitors.

It would be a good opportunity for China to "show its social, economic, cultural and technological achievements, facilitate its cooperation with other countries and boost its social and economic development," said Wen.

"To host a successful exposition is not only the responsibility of Shanghai, but of the whole country," he said.

All the preparations must be highly efficient and up to high standards. Organizers should try to save resources, protect the environment and make full use of the exposition venues, he said.

The exposition should provide good services for all Chinese cities and provinces, including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, that are to participate in the exposition, he said.

It should also enable China to enhance communications and mutual exchanges with the rest of the world.

By September the construction for the exposition was on schedule, with 148 countries and 17 international organizations having confirmed their participation, according to China's State Council.

Shanghai won its bid for the World Expo 2010 in December 2002.