Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, yesterday met a Japanese delegation led by Nomura Arinobu, vice chairman of Tokyo's bidding committee for the Olympic Games in 2016.

Nomura showed great interest in the "Urban Best Practices Region" to be unveiled at World Expo Shanghai 2010 and said Tokyo was eager to participate in it.

Nomura said environmental issues were becoming more and more serious in Asia and added that Tokyo was planning to share its advanced technology in environmental protection and in the information industry at the World Expo.

Hong replied that the "Urban Best Practices Region" would be a highlight of the World Expo. He said the organisers will publish the recruiting procedure for the event next month.

Nomura said he admired Shanghai's development and he hoped Shanghai and Tokyo would communicate and cooperate more with each other.

Hong said Shanghai was eager to learn from Tokyo and mutual cooperation was very important to the development of both cities.

Before the meeting, the delegation visited the Expo Site, Lingang New City and Yangshan Harbor.