Deputy Prime Minister of the UK John Prescott

Zhou Hanmin,deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination

Prescott has a bird's eye view of the World Expo site.

Zhou and Prescott chat friendly.

A delegation from the United Kingdom led by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott visited the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination today.

Zhou Hanmin, deputy director general of the bureau, met with the delegation members.

Zhou introduced the latest progress of preparations for the World Expo 2010 Shanghai. Under a friendly and relaxing environment, Zhou and Prescott exchanged views on topics including the planning, participants, marketing of the event.

Prescott showed particular interest in traffic. It was estimated the World Expo 2010 Shanghai would attract 70 million visitors, which would bring huge pressure over Shanghai's traffic.

Zhou said Shanghai was making great efforts to improve the urban traffic infrastructure. By 2010, there would have been 12 metro lines with a total length of 400 kilometers. Meanwhile, the capacity of the two airports would have been greatly enhanced.

"It is not only to meet the demand of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai, but also to satisfy the city's overall development requirement," Zhou said.

Prescott also had a bird's eye view of the World Expo site and visited the Expo exhibition hall.

The delegation headed for the planned British Pavilion afterwards.

John Prescott had an official visit in China from April 19 to April 25.