Hua Junduo, Commissioner General of the World Expo Shanghai China 2010, and Zhong Yanqun, Vice Chair of Shanghai 2010 World Expo Executive Committee, stated the latest development of preparations for Shanghai Expo at the 139th Session of the BIE General Assembly held in Paris on June 30 local time.  Yu Ping, China’s Chief Representative to BIE and Deputy Director of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, presided over the statement.

Yu extended his great thanks to BIE President Wu Jianmin, Secretary General Loscertales as well as all the BIE member states for their consistent concerns and support for the preparations.

He also expressed appreciation for outstanding efforts for the Expo from Japanese, Thailand and Spanish colleagues.

In his speech, Hua stressed that Chinese Government always attaches importance to the Shanghai Expo and has carried out a series of favorable policies. With 41 countries and four international organizations have their participation confirmed up to now, China will stay in close touch with all of them and will abide by all the promises in the bid, he said.

The first participants’ meeting is going to be held in Shanghai this November, at which the organizers will discuss with all of them about the participation details carefully, he disclosed.

As mentioned in Zhong’s speech, the organizers have made clear the specific content, schedule and liabilities for 96 different tasks. In the meanwhile, much has been done in general planning, exhibition, construction, operation, promotion and support since the 138th Assembly on December 2005.

Currently all the preparations have been in progress smoothly. More than 18,000 families have relocated to make space for the Expo Site, and the construction of major pavilions will start this July. Moreover, exhibition blueprints for major pavilions, China Pavilion and city experimental section will be completed by the end of 2006, she said.

After China Eastern Airlines had become the first official partner for the Shanghai Expo, she forecasted another ten partners and sponsors more or less within this year.

The organizers have also formulated a specific exhibition service chart and the Special Regulations and Exhibition Guideline will be submitted to BIE on time, she added.

It is the first Chinese report to all member states at the General Assembly on the progresses in preparation for Shanghai Expo since the Application Report was passed last December, which has drawn much attention from the BIE. Representatives of member states set a high value on the international exhibition invitation and their careful, orderly and comprehensive efforts by the organizers during that half of year.