Shanghai Daily news

Staff responsible for promoting World Expo Shanghai 2010 at the ongoing Expo Zaragoza in Spain have been overwhelmed by visitors' enthusiasm for the Shanghai event.

They are being bombarded with questions ranging from the mascot Haibao to the weather in Shanghai during the six-month event, says Xu Bo, director of the international participants division of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination.

Xu was one of the first Expo 2010 officials to visit Spain to learn from the experiences of Expo Zaragoza.

"We have set up a counter at the China Pavilion, and five Expo officials and seven volunteers, who can speak Spanish, are handing out brochures about Shanghai Expo," says Xu. He adds that many visitors have expressed a desire to visit Shanghai during Expo 2010.

The China Pavilion themed "Humans and Water - Return to Harmony" is among the most popular pavilions at Expo Zaragoza with daily visitors averaging 20,000 to 30,000, Xu reveals.

Xu says he and his colleagues were also busy consulting with representatives from participating countries and organizations to facilitate the early signing of participation contracts.

The Slovak Republic has signed an official participation contract with organizers in Spain. The country will present an exhibition in Shanghai called "The World for Humanity" at a 1,000-square-meter pavilion.

The three-month Expo Zaragoza will run through September 14. It is a specialized expo.