China keen to host 2010 World Expo
( 2002-03-04 10:42 ) (8 )

China is now vigorously supporting Shanghai's bid for the World Expo 2010, hoping to be the first developing country to obtain the opportunity of holding a World Expo.

According to Wang Junyi, chairman of the Shanghai Bidding Office, the World Expo is divided into two types"Though Kunming, capital of south China's Yunnan Province, successfully held the World Horticulture Exposition of the recognized type in 1999, registered Expos have always been hosted by developed countries since they first came into being over 150 years ago.

Wang Junyi said that each World Expo gathers the latest achievements of civilization and human wisdom of its time.

The Expo is also a great chance for the host country to exhibit its own social, economic and cultural accomplishments as well as its prospects for future development comprehensively, said Wang.

Therefore, many member countries of the International Exposition Bureau (IEB) have participated in the bidding for the Word Expo, which signifies a country's national power and rising international standing, Wang said.

For many years, however, the Expo of the registered type has been confined to a few developed countries, which has greatly hindered its own wide popularization and goes against the aim of realizing communication and cooperation through the Expo, Wang said.