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214 countries and organizations confirm Expo participation
By Du Xiaoli (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-08-14 13:58

So far 214 countries and international organizations have confirmed their participation in the Shanghai World Expo, and 60 countries and international organizations have signed participation contracts, said Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, in Shanghai on August 13.

More than 40 countries will establish their own exhibition halls in the Shanghai World Expo and more than 10 countries have also publicized their construction design schemes, said Hong at a press conference.

Construction of some permanent buildings such as the China Hall, Theme Hall and World Expo Center has gone smoothly since it began last year. The Shanghai World Expo will not purposely design, plan and construct landmark buildings, he said, adding that the real landmark buildings will emerge upon completion and based on common recognition from the public.

The goal is to harmonize the whole building complex of the Shanghai World Expo, Hong said.

As for domestic participation, provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions have established organizations that will participate in the Expo, which have begun preparing since last year, Hong said. To date, 29 provinces and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions have signed participation agreements.


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