On September 16, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, who is visiting Shanghai, made a special trip to the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination to be debriefed about the progress of preparations for World Expo 2010 Shanghai China and to convey the interest of the Italian government and people to World Expo 2010 Shanghai China. Prime Minister Prodi is the first foreign head of state to visit the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination.

Accompanied by the Deputy Mayor of Shanghai Yang Xiong, who is also Member of the Organizing Committee of World Expo 2010 Shanghai and Executive Deputy Director of the Executive Committee of World Expo Shanghai 2010, and by Zhong Yanqun, Standing Deputy Director of World Expo Shanghai 2010 Executive Committee, Prime Minister Prodi enthusiastically ascended to the top platform of World Expo Building, overlooked the planned Expo Site and was debriefed by Yang Xiong about the site planning for World Expo 2010 Shanghai China.

Prime Minister Prodi expressed his high expectation for World Expo 2010 Shanghai China and his hope for an event in 2010 surpassing all previous Expos. Prodi gave a high praise to the plan for World Expo 2010 Shanghai China and said he thought locating the Expo site in the downtown area was a great idea which would offer the district more opportunities.

Vice Mayor Yang Xiong invited Prime Minister Prodi to offer proposals for the construction of 2010 World Expo Park, and hoped Italy could build a pavilion that would match its image as a major country of the exhibition and display Italian’s understanding of the 2010 Expo theme of "Better City, Better Life".