Chen made the remark at a news briefing for foreign diplomats and the Chinese and foreign press corps, held in Beijing. He also detailed Shanghai?s latest developments in preparations for the bid.

He said, ?Shanghai, promoting the theme ?Better City, Better Life,? is keen to share with other countries the experience and insights gained from pluralism in urban culture, prosperity in the urban economy, innovations in urban science and technology, the remodeling of urban communities, and the interactions between cities and villages.?

According to Chen, the EXPO site will be located on both sides of the Huangpu River, in Shanghai, covering an area of 4 square kilometers. After the closing of the World Exposition, the Shanghai municipality plans to turn the EXPO site into a ?global village,? which will serve as a center for economic, scientific, technological and cultural exchange between China and other countries.

The project requires a direct investment of over US$3 billion, with extended investment reaching anywhere from US$15 billion to US$30 billion. The event will provide enormous business opportunities for enterprises around the globe.

?We are working on a more detailed plan to improve our selection chances,? the mayor added. The Chinese government has pledged to provide US$100 million to assist developing countries participate in the event. In addition, preferential taxation treatment will be granted to Exposition organizers, participating countries, enterprises and staff if China hosts the 2010 World Expo.

Mr. Chen went on to emphasize the benefits of holding the event in Shanghai. ?About 90 percent of the Chinese population and 93 percent of Shanghai residents support China?s bid for the 2010 World Expo, while 86 percent of those polled in Shanghai expressed willingness to participate in the world exposition,? he said quoting an opinion poll conducted by the Gallup Research Co.

Strong support from Chinese people is expected to guarantee a high level of attendance at the event. Shanghai forecasts that the exposition would attract over 70 million visitors, breaking the record set by any previous World Expo.

Other officials echoed Chen?s remarks. Senior officials from State Council, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, stressed that they will stand firmly behind Shanghai in its bid for the 2010 World Expo.

Xu Shaoshi, deputy secretary-general of the State Council and vice chairman for the Expo 2010 Shanghai China State Bidding Committee, reaffirmed the central government?s full support.

He noted that China, with a population of 1.3 billion and an area of 9.6 million square kilometers, will raise the profile of the World Expo, since no developing countries have ever been asked to host the event.

Wei Jianguo, vice minister of foreign trade and economic cooperation and vice director of Shanghai Expo 2010 Bidding Committee, believes that the strong Chinese economy will assist the success of the bid.

According to Wei, in terms of aggregate economic output, China ranked No.6 in the world in 2001. Its foreign trade exceeded US$500 billion. In addition, China, among developing countries, has been the largest recipient of FDI for nine consecutive years.

?If Shanghai wins, the exposition will not only contribute to promoting China?s economic development, but will also set a good example for other developing countries, making the Expo truly international gathering,? he said.

Yu Xiaosong, president of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and vice chairman of the Expo 2010 Shanghai China State Bidding Committee, said China?s 10 million businesses and industrial enterprises all support Shanghai?s bid for the 2010 World Expo. Accordingly, a business support council, composed of 50 domestic and foreign-funded companies in China, has been established.

Mayor Chen Liangyu said, ?Shanghai was greatly encouraged by the successful hosting of the 1999 Kunming International Horticultural Exposition.? He hoped that more and more countries would support Shanghai?s bid for the 2010 World Expo.

Currently, Shanghai is competing with four other cities in the Republic of Korea, Russia, Mexico and Poland. A final decision will be made in the 132nd Member Nations Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), which will be held in Monaco on December 3 later this year.

(china.org.cn by staff reporter Tang Fuchun, September 13, 2002)