Eleven Chinese provinces and cities will show "art of urban life" at the World Expo to be held in Aichi of Japan in 2005, Gao Yan, chairwoman of the Organizing Committee of China Pavilion, said in Beijing Monday.

The cities include Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Dalian and Hangzhou, and the provinces are Hainan, Heilongjiang and Anhui, together with Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Gao said at a news briefing.

They are representatives of China's five economic zones, namely the Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta, Bohai Bay Rim, central and western regions, and the old industrial base in northeast China.

At present, preparatory offices have been set up in these cities and provinces, said Gao, who is also vice-chairwoman of the China Council for Promotion of International Trade.

Representatives of Beijing and Shanghai expressed their willingness to publicize at Aichi the Olympic Games of 2008 in Beijing and the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.

With the theme of "nature, city and harmony: the art of life", the China Pavilion will demonstrate the Chinese people's understanding of harmonious relationship between nature and city, and their new lifestyle since China's reforms and opening-up.

The World Expo 2005 will be held from March 25 to Sept. 25, 2005, with the theme of "wisdom of nature."

(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2004)