Taking the Expo as a "convincing proof" that equality and harmony is the common aspiration of mankind, Wen mentioned the 14 Pacific island countries and 12 Caribbean countries which had made their first collective presence at the 159-year-old event.

"Some are new to the World Expo and some do not yet have diplomatic relations with China. Yet they all participated with great interest and enthusiasm. This is a good example which shows that the World Expo is above national, ethnic and religious boundaries," said he.

"The Expo has brought together the Chinese people who wish to learn more about the world and foreign friends who wish to know more about China. Thanks to the Expo, they have forged a strong bond of friendship," said he.

Wen said that the Expo Shanghai, the first to feature city as its theme, would leave behind a "rich spiritual legacy" and "a constant source of inspiration" for the future of mankind because more than half of the world population now live in cities.

He said it was important that countries handle ethnic tensions, cultural frictions and regional conflicts and other hotspot issues in a sensible way, seek peaceful solutions to international and domestic disputes through consultations and remove ethnic estrangement and strife, and work together to build a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity

"The success of the Expo has strengthened China's confidence and resolve to pursue reform and opening-up. China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development and stay open and inclusive," he said.

The Summit Forum, co-hosted by the Shanghai World Expo organizing committee, the United Nations, and the International Expositions Bureau (BIE), focuses on "Urban Innovation and Sustainable Development".

The forum, the highest-level event in the series of Expo forums and the finale of the six-month Expo, calls for joint efforts in tackling the growing challengesof urbanization.