fireworks marking the close of the Expo

Officials address at the closing ceremony.

The curtain fell on the three-month Zaragoza Expo yesterday with a declaration on the sustainable use of water.

After more than six million visitors had enjoyed the Expo, Spain's King Juan Carlos yesterday formally announced its close.

Following its theme "Water and Sustainable Development," a declaration from international experts of ideas and proposals for the sustainable use of water was presented at the closing ceremony.

Organizers expressed the hope that experts would continue to focus on the theme after the Expo, which had created a platform for people learn about water usage.

Shanghai's Executive Vice Mayor Yang Xiong (second left)

The mayor of Zaragoza, Juan Alberto Belloch Julbe, said that Expo had helped the city improve its urban facilities, expand public and private investment and attract more tourists while improving the quality of life for its citizens.

The closing ceremony featured various performances including ballet all with a water theme.

Guests included Spain's Queen Sofia, the Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and Jean-Pierre Lafon, president of the International Expositions Bureau.

Shanghai's Executive Vice Mayor Yang Xiong was also present.

Chang Seung-Woo (right), chairman of the organizing Committee for the 2012 Yeosu Expo receives the flag of the International Expositions Bureau from Jean-Pierre Lafon (left), president of the International Expositions Bureau and Vicente Loscertales, secretary general of BIE

Chang Seung-Woo, chairman of the organizing Committee for the 2012 Yeosu Expo, received the flag of the International Expositions Bureau.

Yeosu's Expo will have the theme "The Living Ocean and Coast - Diversity of Resources and Sustainable Activities," and is one the registered expos like Zaragoza. The Shanghai Expo is a comprehensive Expo.

ballet at the closing ceremony