scene of the meeting

Huang Yaocheng (right), counselor for national participation with the Bureau of Shanghai Expo Coordination presents Shanghai Expo mascot Haibao to Zhang Weibo, vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of Shaoxing.

SHAOXING residents are keen to visit Shanghai during the 2010 World Expo which they feel is one of a long-term dreams of the Chinese people, a senior official of the city's top advisory body said yesterday.

Zhang Weibo, vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of Shaoxing in Zhejiang Province, led a delegation to the Bureau of the Shanghai Expo Coordination.

Huang Yaocheng, counselor for national participation with the Expo Bureau, said the 2010 event requires the enthusiastic participation of all 15 cities in the Yangtze River Delta.

The influence of Expo in boosting the economy will last from 30 to 50 years, Huang predicted, describing the event as a grand gathering of various cultures.