Shanghai Daily news

Heavy rainstorms and gales yesterday did not hold back a brainstorm session at the Forum 2007 Expo 2010 Shanghai, Shanghai Daily reported.

Topics ranged from sustainable development and city heritage protection to innovative technology.

More than 200 officials and scholars from home and abroad gathered in the Pudong Shangri-La hotel to share their thoughts and suggestions for urban development at the city's annual forum for the Expo.

As the city is experiencing fallout from the most severe typhoon in a decade, the guests expressed concerns about weather problems during the six-month event during which it is typhoon season. "It's nothing to worry about," said Zhou Hanmin, deputy director-general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination.

The organizers have already launched a multi-hazard early-warning system with the World Meteorological Organization, which will be able to forecast bad weather in Shanghai and issue timely alerts, said Zhou.

It is the fifth time that the city government and the bureau have invited urban development experts to contribute to the preparation of the Expo.

This year's forum focused on the theme "Urban Best Practices" in three areas: sustainable development, protection of historical heritage and new technology.

The city is eager to absorb advice from experts and enhance communication with the participants and the international community, said Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng in the keynote speech.

Vicente Loscertales, the secretary-general of International Expositions Bureau said: "The notion of best practices puts much emphasis on experience. From long ago, we always want to utilize other countries' experience and knowhow. The forum provides a new platform for us to communicate and consider."

About 30 examples will be selected from international cities to give visitors innovative ideas about bettering their lives in the Urban Best Practices Area.

The international selection committee will meet for the second time tomorrow to have talks on the final list.

"We already have a list of more than 100 candidates, and it's not easy to choose 30 out of them," said Mats Andersson, an official with the World Bank and a selection committee member.