Zhong Yanqun (left) delivers a gift to Milan's Mayor Letizia Brichetto Arnaboldi Moratti

Zhong Yanqun, standing deputy director of the Shanghai 2010 World Expo Executive Committee, met with Milan's Mayor Letizia Brichetto Arnaboldi Moratti today in Shanghai.

Zhong extended a warm welcome to Moratti and other members of the delegation. She introduced the details of the preparations for the World Expo 2010.

"Shanghai and Milan are sister cities. Both of them are developing very fast,"said Zhong. "To host the World Expo can accelerate Shanghai's development and bring concrete benefits to the lives of local people."

Moratti said it was exciting to see the progress of Shanghai's preparations for the Expo. Milan is also preparing to bid for the World Expo 2015 and Shanghai's experience is worthy of learning.