China steps up efforts to bid for 2010 World Exposition
( 2001-11-09 09:54 ) (8 )

The Chinese government has fully supported Shanghai's bid to host the 2010 World Exposition and the 1.3 billion Chinese people are hoping for a successful result, Shanghai Mayor Xu Kuangdi said in Shanghai on Thursday.

Xu made the remarks while meeting with Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales, secretary-general of the International Expositions Bureau (IEB).

Xu will join a Chinese Government delegation to attend the 130th meeting of the IEB members at the end of this month in Paris, at which Xu will make a presentation on Shanghai's plan of hosting the 2010 event.

Loscertales described the bidding work of Shanghai as serious, highly efficient and demonstrating the desire of the Shanghai people for a successful bid.

The success of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Shanghai last month has fully proved the capabilities of China and Shanghai in hosting large international events, Loscertales said.

He acknowledged that the competition for the 2010 World Exposition would be fierce as six cities have applied for hosting the event.

In another meeting here Thursday with Laurent Fabius, financial and industrial minister of France, who is on a visit to Shanghai, Xu said that Shanghai is "fully confident" though facing the competition.

Apart from the backing from the Chinese government, Shanghai has got wide support from local citizens, according to Xu.

The IEM will make the final choice by the end of 2002 after inspecting all candidate cities early next year.

The World Exposition has long been regarded as the most prestigious exhibition since it was launched in London in 1851.