How Expo 2010 sowed the seeds of success

The theme for the event, held on both sides of the Huangpu River on a site with a total area twice the size of Monaco, was" Better City, Better Life".

"It was also interesting to see how many countries presented themselves to China and the message they felt they wanted to convey," Chappell said.

Loscertales, from the BIE, said the "Better City, Better Life" theme demonstrated China's "high level of interest in this globally relevant issue".