By Dai Qian

World Expo 2010 Shanghai achieved an important milestone in December 2006 as more than 100 countries and international organizations have confirmed their participation, exceeding the planned target for 2006 of 70 confirmed participants. This also indicates that half of the goal of attracting at least 200 international participants has been accomplished.

In March 2006, Expo Shanghai officially started soliciting exhibitors. Over the past nine months, the invitation for participating in Expo Shanghai has aroused great attention and active response from the international society. During this period, 26 members of Shanghai Expo Organizing Committee from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Shanghai Municipal Government have carried out a great amount of meticulous and fruitful work. In the meantime, the related ministries and departments other than the members have also helped with a lot of basic work. The smooth running of participant invitation is attributed to the joint efforts of relevant government authorities and Chinese diplomatic victory.

Invitation letter sent out with timely debriefing of Expo Shanghai preparation

On March 22, the official Invitation Letters signed by Premier Wen Jiabao were sent to 168 countries which have established diplomatic ties with China by way of diplomatic channels, indicating launching of invitation work for Expo Shanghai.

On March 29, the official Invitation Letters signed by Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing were sent to 49 international organizations by way of diplomatic channels.

After receiving the official Invitation Letter for Expo 2010 Shanghai, many countries and international organizations have responded actively, hoping to strengthen communication with the organizers of Expo Shanghai and get better idea about the preparatory work. Some attendees have appointed a commissioner-general for carrying out prophase discussion with the Expo organizers in order to confirm participating in the event at the early stage. In order to meet the information requirement concerning Expo Shanghai by participating countries and international organizations and to boost the invitation work, Shanghai Expo Organizing Committee and Executive Committee have respectively held Expo Shanghai debriefings.

Took advantage of opportunities to promote participation in full swing

The organizers of Expo Shanghai have taken full advantage of various opportunities in international conferences to attract World Expo participants. Four important meetings from September through December 2006 were special occasions for the organizers to promote the World Expo in Shanghai.

On September 27, the 4th World Expo Forum was held in Shanghai with more than 150 participants from both at home and abroad. The attendees in the forum reached an agreement that the organizing party and various participating parties of Expo Shanghai -- with the theme "Better City, Better Life" -- should all make full use of their own advantages and work together to create an impressive and unforgettable event in the World Expo history.

On October 27, the Executive Committee Conference of BIE was held in headquarters of BIE in Paris. Zhou Hanmin, deputy director of Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, represented the organizing party and addressed regarding the function and distribution of Expo pavilions, planning, designing and construction of Shanghai Expo exhibition centers, market developing, online Expo, communication and promotion, institutions and staff members, schedules, latest preparation information of the First Participants Meeting and specific tasks in the near future. He also answered questions from members of the Executive Committee of BIE.

In order to further strengthen the liaison and communication between the organizing party and participating parties, the First Participants Meeting was held in Shanghai during November 15-16, 2006. 288 representatives from more than 127 countries and international organizations attended the meeting. The organizer also gave representatives the first version of the Expo Participation Guide and had group discussions and negotiations with them. The organizers listened to suggestions from participating parties carefully and answered their questions.

On December 18, The 140th Member Representative Conference of BIE was held in Paris. In the conference, organizers of Expo Shanghai gave a complete introduction to the international society regarding their promises in the Executive Committee Conference of BIE and information about the First Participants Meeting.

China and Foreign Countries Reached Agreement

During the process of invitation work, organizers of Expo Shanghai took full advantage of their opportunities to visit and attend international conferences as well as receiving foreign guests to promote Expo Shanghai in order to get more countries and international organizations to confirm their participations. Shanghai Municipal People's Government and Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, in line with Ministry of Foreign Affairs of PRC, Ministry of Commerce and CCPIT, also took similar actions.

Quite a few countries that confirmed their participation have sent out their technique discussion groups. Those groups include many experienced World Expo experts in various areas who also prepared detailed question lists in advance. They discussed with the organizers regarding various issues in Expo Shanghai, including planning and operation of Expo park, arrangement of pavilions and construction of exhibition venues. In addition, many countries are specially concerned about how to better express the theme“Better City, Better Life”as well as how to improve their country images and expand their influences in China through the World Expo.

From April to December in 2006, Expo Shanghai organizers have welcomed more than 100 groups of heads of state, leaders, officers and experts from various countries and international organizations.

Nine months have passed swiftly. It was an experience worth being proud of. Through collaborating efforts from various sides, people started to pay attention to and agree with the idea "Better City, Better Life". Considering the objective of the international participation invitation for Expo Shanghai, we still have a long way to go in 2007.