On April 12,China News Service, one of the two main news agencies on the Chinese mainland, has become an official partner of the organizers of World Expo 2010 Shanghai and will provide Expo-related stories to the overseas Chinese press, the city government announced.

In a ceremony, a press center built especially for overseas Chinese, was opened in the offices of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination in Pudong.

In addition to the Expo bureau, the center will be also co-managed by the Shanghai Information Office and CNS.

Later this year, the bureau will open another press center to serve both the domestic and foreign press covering the World Expo.

The main purpose of the overseas Chinese press center is to provide free in-depth Expo-related stories or pages to overseas Chinese press companies to promote Expo worldwide and giving such details as the planning for the Expo, ticketing and business operations.

So far, nearly 30 overseas Chinese press organizations have endorsed cooperation with CNS, including the Spain-based Ouhua News.

"Overseas Chinese will play a key role in spreading information about the World Expo to the outside world," Shanghai municipal spokeswoman Jiao Yang said.