An official with the 2010 Shanghai World Expo said 211 countries and international organizations had confirmed their participation for the event at a press conference?held in Shanghai?on Wednesday.

"An estimated 70 million visitors are expected to attend," said Chen Xianjin, deputy director of the expo coordination bureau, at an international conference held under the theme of "Modern service and metropolis development".

"Only when it has an advanced service industry, will a city be able to host the World Expo. Hosting the World Expo will also help develop the modern service industry in Shanghai."

Vicente Gonzales Loscertales, Secretary General of Bureau of International Expositions (BIE), said China's government and the whole nation had actively participated in the preparation work of the Shanghai World Expo, just like they did for next month's Olympic Games.

"Shanghai World Expo is the most well-prepared expo I have ever seen."

He believed the expo would be a showcase for the societies, economies, cultures and scientific achievements of different countries.

The expo, running from May 1 to October 31, 2010, will feature five theme pavilions – "Urbanian", "City as a Form of Life", "Urban Planet", "Urban Future" and "Urban Culture".

(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2008)