Vincent Gonzales Loscertales, Secretary General of Bureau of International Exposition (BIE) paid a three-day visit to Shanghai on July 5-8 to inspect the latest development in the preparation for the Shanghai World Expo and to actively boost the preparatory work.

During his visit, Mr. Loscertales held a work conference with the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination to discuss issues with regard to the overall preparation for the World Expo, the construction of the Expo Park and pavilions, theme development, participation guidelines, communication and promotion, international exhibitor and investor recruitment and the preparation for the fourth Shanghai World Expo Forum.

The BIE Secretary General praised the Bureau of the Shanghai World Expo Coordination for the enormous work and various proposals the bureau has undertaken in relation to the aforementioned issues. He was also quite excited when the discussion moved to the urban development plan for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo Park, and commended highly the plan.

Both parties reached consensus on many issues in the three-day conference, and exchanged their views on the detailed issues in some specific proposals amid a warm, candid, practical and friendly atmosphere.

Mr. Loscertales' visit came after the recent relocation of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination to the Expo Construction Mansion, a building located in the heart of the construction of the World Expo Park. He toured the new offices of the bureau during the break of the conference, and exchanged words cordially with the bureau staff.

In the afternoon of July 7, the BIE Secretary General also went to the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall to visit a piece of sculpture work that bears figures of a BIE delegation, including Loscertales himself , which was on its investigation visit to Shanghai in March 2002. The sculpture work was made especially to mark the delegation’s visit and the success in China's bid for World Expo 2010. At 1.6 meters high, 3.6 meters long and 15-20 centimeters thick, the Bronze artwork was a product of Ms. Morritti, a female French sculptor, and the figures in the sculpture work serve as vivid portraits of the members of the BIE delegation. Mr. Loscertales also took a picture with his own portrait in the sculpture work during his visit.

The BIE Secretary General took questions from the press at the shanghai Urban Planning Hall shortly after his visit to the sculpture work. He said the preparation for the Shanghai World Expo has been progressing in an orderly and steady way, adding that the organizing framework of the Shanghai Expo has been further strengthened and the successful progress of the household location out of the Expo Park also laid a solid foundation for the future construction work.

The site construction, including infrastructure construction for the World Expo will soon kick off. Mr. Loscertales said he was quite satisfied with the current preparation for the Shanghai World Expo. In the media briefing, he also commented particularly on the ongoing etiquette campaign for common Shanghai households, adding that such kind of campaign is quite necessary and timely in Shanghai, which will create good cultural environment for the Shanghai World Expo in 2010.

When asked about the 2008 Saragoza World Expo to be held in Spain, he said that China could seize the opportunity to promote the Shanghai World Expo to European visitors through rich exhibits and activities in the China Pavilion in Saragoza, which will attract many of them to participate in the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.