Shanghai is eager to learn from the experiences of other cities which have held a World Expo, Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng told an Expo forum today.

Han, who is also Acting Secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, said preparations for Expo are going smoothly with the support and help of the Bureau of International Expositions.

The annual Expo forum offers a good communication platform for Shanghai to learn from others, Han said.

He said the theme is the soul of an Expo, so it is the most important task to interpret a theme well. The forum invited experts and officials to share their wisdom and contribute to the Expo.