Shanghai Daily news

Shanghai Expo organizers signed a national participation contract with Jiangsu Province in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu, yesterday.

Jiangsu is the first to sign the national participation contract.

According to the agreement, the local government will submit the theme statement before April 30 and hand in its official exhibition plan by the end of this year.

Zhou Hanmin, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, brought local officials up to date with preparations for Shanghai Expo after the signing ceremony.

Jiangsu has established an Expo team composed by 23 units in local government.

Meanwhile, Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika is to head a Malawian delegation to the 2010 World Expo.

Mutharika made the remarks in a meeting with Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng yesterday. He believed the event would provide a platform for further development of Malawi-China friendship.

He hoped China's experiences of rapid economic development would help the development of Malawi.