Speedy visa processing for Shanghai Expo

BEIJING - China will provide speedy visa processing for visitors to the upcoming World Expo, as well as more hotel space with help from surrounding cities, according to an organizer of the event.

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With support from the Foreign Ministry, it is already "an established policy" to provide quick visa processing for Expo visitors from around the world, said Zhou Hanmin, deputy director of the Shanghai 2010 World Expo Executive Committee, speaking here on Monday.

He made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top advisory body.

To receive the coming waves of visitors, a total of 550,000 beds will be available inside Shanghai during the Expo, and visitors can stay in nearby cities if Shanghai cannot hold all of them, said Zhou.

To further assist, efforts have been made to provide easy transportation between Shanghai and its surrounding cities, he said.

World Expo 2010, which is scheduled to be held in Shanghai from May 1 to October 31, is expected to attract 70 million visitors, of which more than 5 percent will come from abroad, according to Zhou.