Shangjai Vice Mayor Yang Xiong, a member of the Organizing Committee of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai and executive deputy director of the Executive Committee of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai, met with Vincente Loscertales, the secretary general of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE), in London yesterday. 　　

　　During the three-hour session, two parties discussed the connotations of the Shanghai World Expo 2010's theme of "Better City, Better Life" and details of international participation in the event. 　　

　　The plan for a "best cities region" as part of the Expo was also discussed. This region would be a place where cities who have managed to keep their historical sites in harmony and modern life would be displayed as well as cities which have received UN awards for their "livability" and cities that have been outstanding in solving energy and security problems. 　

　　Loscertales expressed his appreciation of Shanghai's efforts and its progress in the preparations for the Expo. He said he would continue to recommend the participation of experts to help get Expo ready and to promote cooperation between World Expo 2010 Shanghai and the BIE.