Dr. Herbert Schmalstieg, mayor of Hannover, Germany, during a visit to Shanghai's Tongji University on Monday, predicted that Shanghai, with its vitality and economic opportunities, would possibly win its bid to host the 2010 World Expo.
Dr. Schmalstieg, who had been invited to Tongji University to receive the title of Honorary Professor, made the remarks as he addressed some 100 students at Tongji.
Dr. Schmalstieg emphasized the opportunities presented by the expo, noting that Hannover has greatly benefited from hosting the 2000 World Expo.
He said that winning the bid for the 2010 expo would help metropolis Shanghai to accelerate its already rapid development, and that he hopes to attend the expo in Shanghai in 2010.
According to the mayor, the 2000 expo created about 40,000 jobs, placed Hannover on the worldwide stage, and helped it to forge closer ties with other parts of the world.
"World Expo is a kind of investment in the future," Dr. Schmalstieg said.
(Xinhua News Agency September 2, 2002)
