On February 4, members of the public heard a lecture on how Shanghai has prepared for drastic changes in the weather in 2010 when the city is hosting the World Expo.

The lecture was delivered in the Shanghai Library by Tang Xo, director of the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau as part of the "World Expo Rostrum" series of talks which started last year.

Tang said the Expo, which would take place from May to October, could be hit by the plum rains, soaring summer temperatures and seasonal typhoons.

So the meteorological service and its weather forecasts were very important, Tang said.

Shanghai's plans for meteorological services during the World Expo have been reviewed and approved by the World Meteorological Organisation and by weather experts from developed countries, Tang said.

The rostrum, organized by the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination and the Shanghai Library, last year held two series of talks on the themes of "Expo Manners" and "Expo Sketch."

The next series of talks will highlight the "Expo Plan." Experts involved in the planning of World Expo 2010 will deliver speeches to inform people of details of the event.