Urban planning experts will discuss how to improve living standards at a World Expo 2010 forum on Harmonious Cities and Livable Life tomorrow and Thursday.

The one-and-a-half-day forum in Hangzhou will include an opening ceremony, main session, round-table meeting, six sub-forums and the closing session.

More than 60 government officials and urban planners from 10 countries will share policies and strategies being used to improve livelihoods.

British town planner and geographer Peter Hall will give a keynote speech.

So will John Friedmann, who is professor emeritus at UCLA's School of Public Affairs. He founded UCLA's Urban Planning Program in the Graduate School of Architecture and Planning.

Friedmann is currently an honorary professor at the School of Community and Regional Planning at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. His current research focuses on urbanisation in China.

Leaders attending the forum include Inga Bjork-Klevby, deputy executive director of UN-Habitat, Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales, secretary-general of the International Exhibition Bureau, and Huang Kunming, Hangzhou Party Secretary.

The Expo 2010 official Website (www.expo2010.cn) will provide live coverage of the forum tomorrow.