scene of the signing ceremony

Wang Jinzhen, Vice Chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade

Zhong Yanqun, fulltime deputy director of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai Executive Committee

Zhou Hanmin, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination

Cai Guofeng, Expo Liasion Vice Director

Fifteen provinces and municipalities yesterday signed World Expo 2010 participation contracts with organizers in Shanghai.

Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, signed the contracts on behalf of Expo organizers with officials from Tianjin, Hebei, Guangdong, the Tibet Autonomous Region and 11 other provinces.

So far, 20 provinces and municipalities have submitted exhibition themes and plans for the Expo, Zhou Hanmin, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, said at the signing ceremony.

Wang Jinzhen, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said the provinces should begin to prepare Expo forums and Expo Websites, as well as exhibits.

He hoped each province could offer a unique exhibition. The exhibition of provinces should complement the China Pavilion, Wang added.

According to the conference, four Urban Best Practices Area cases from Taipei, Suzhou and Hangzhou have signed participation contracts with the organizers.

Thirty-one provinces and cities have confirmed participation in the“Online Expo,”which will build a virtual replica of actual pavilions, thus allowing those who cannot go to the Expo see the exhibits.

Organizers said they will offer all kinds of help to participants. They invited some experts, including Xu Hong, doctoral tutor form Peking University, and Wu Jianzhong, director of Shanghai Library, to give suggestions on the participation plans of the provinces.

Zhong Yanqun, fulltime deputy director of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai Executive Committee, was present at the ceremony.

scene of the signing ceremony