More than half of the people in the world live in the city in 2007 according to the United Nations. Problems brought by urbanisation, involving energy, environment, sanitation, living, security and the gap between rich and poor, keep attracting people's concerns. Meanwhile, China is planning to hold the World Expo Shanghai in 2010, themed as "Better City, Better Life."

Scheduled to run from May 1 to October 31, Expo Shanghai will stage the achievements of urbanisation and sustainable development of more than 200 countries and organisations, attracting over 700 million visitors to join this gathering.

"World Expo 2010 Shanghai China is a grand event held by China, undertook by Shanghai. The theme of the Expo embodies the China's concept and creativity on new economic and social developing patterns. China will create this harmonious chapter for the world," said Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng, the acting Party leader of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Shanghai: allocate 1/100 of its land for the Expo

The 5.28-square-kilometer Expo Site consists one percent of Shanghai's urban area. The area was crowded by 180,000 families, each only own 30 square meters' space. Local residents lived around 272 companies, including hundred-year-old shipyard and manufacturing factories. The chimneys, cranes and old houses surrounded the Huangpu River, which made the mother river of Shanghai a little bleak.

To people's surprises, just in two years, the biggest relocation project in Shanghai has arrived the final phase. Until February, all the 180,000 families had moved into newly built "Expo Garden." Most of the 272 companies have moved out, too. Half of the Expo Site has been available for the construction.

"Though the Expo haven't been held, we have already enjoyed the fruit of the Expo," 56-year-old Zou Shufen said when she spent the first Spring Festival with her family in the new apartment.

Wu Zhiqiang, chief designer of the Expo Site, professor at Tongji University said most of the past World Expos built the Expo Site on vacant lands. China broke the convention and chose a harder way, which indicated China's determination of taking advantage of the Expo to adjust industrial structures, accelerate the infrastructures construction, improve people's life and create a harmonious society.

To attract global wisdom with harmonious "Expo software"

The constructions of the modern Expo Site are the "hardware," the basics of the Expo and the theme is the soul of the Expo. Theme developing is the key to host a successful Expo. And also, the intellectual rights protection of the exhibiting achievements will decide whether participants will bring edge-cutting technologies to the Expo.

The theme developing of the Expo was completed at the beginning of 2007. Under the theme "Better City, Better Life," the organizers established five sub-themes, which are "city's diversified culture," "city's economic prosperity," "city's science and technology innovation," "remodeling city's communities," and "interaction between city and countryside." Theme developing will answer three questions: what kind of city will make the life better? What kind of living concept and practice will make the city better? What kind of developing pattern city needs to make the earth better? The national pavilion of China decided to exhibit "harmonious" to demonstrate its theme "Chinese wisdom in cities development."

After issuing the Regulations on the Protection of the World Exposition Emblems in 2004, the organizers passed the guide of intellectual rights protection for World Expo 2010. The guide says, visitors will not be allowed to take photos or shoot videos during any exhibitions, forums and performances without the permission of participants. The guide also guarantees the organisers will give a certificate to ensure the exhibiting objects enjoy a priority when applying for the patent in China in six months.

Zhou Hanmin, general deputy director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, emphasised, the guide, to some extent, could be regarded as a regulation issued by the State Council. China has never issued IPR regulations especially for an international event. These regulations will ground the legal bases for the inventions and creative ideas in the Expo Shanghai.

Host the event with global participation

The Bureau of World Expo Coordination has received more than 380 delegations from 50 countries since 2006. So far, 122 countries and international organisations have confirmed their participation in the event, in which 14 commissioned their commissioner general and coordinator. It is expected that 170 attendees will sign up for the event by the end of 2007.

Besides inviting countries, international organisations and renowned enterprises around the world, the organizers will also arrange a 10 to 12 hector "Best Practices Region" with the UN-HABITAT, Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) to invite the cities to display successful experiences in dealing with problems, involving energy, environment, transport, employment, community and so on. The innovative idea has received a warm response from over a hundred cities in the world.

Vice Mayor Yang Xiong said, it is the first time the World Expo to be held in a developing country. Comparing with the countries that have held several World Expos, China is still lack of experiences. Therefore, the participation of international community is very important during the preparation and when hosting the event.

The Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination has held four "Expo Forums" with BIE since 2002. Shanghai also hosts participants meeting since last year to hear the advices and suggestions from attendees and experts home and abroad.

Vincente Losertales, secretary-general of BIE said, "The theme of World Expo 2010, 'Better City, Better Life,' is the reason why cities exist." He said Shanghai Expo will open a window for the world to witness co-exist of men, resources and the Nature.