deputy commissioner general of Switzerland's exhibition section Manuel Salchli (left) and Zhu Yonglei, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination

 Zhu Yonglei, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, answers questions from representatives

Expo Shanghai Online, a brand-new program in Expo's 150-year-plus history, was officially launched today, organizers announced at a seminar in Paris, France.

The announcement came as deputy commissioner general of Switzerland's exhibition section Manuel Salchli handed in the confirmation letter of its participation at the program to Zhu Yonglei, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, making it the first country to participate in Expo Shanghai Online.

Vicente Loscertales, secretary general of the International Expositions Bureau, hailed the program as a great innovation which has historical significance.

Representatives from Switzerland and Japan introduced plans for setting up a three-dimensional online pavilion and experience in using web technology during World Expo 2005 Aichi respectively.

The Expo Shanghai Online program, one of the two anticipated highlights of Shanghai Expo, will operate alongside traditional pavilions. It will allow Netizens worldwide to savor the 2010 extravaganza online via advanced technology that will provide three-dimensional images of the pavilions.

Netizens can "walk" into every corner of the Expo site from a first-person point of view and watch performances anytime, anywhere.

They will also be able to interact in pavilions by playing games, chat with pavilion chiefs and even plan a future city in keeping with the Expo's theme of livable cities and innovation.

Organizers hope to make World Expo 2010 an everlasting event via the online channel and let those who don't have the chance to participate in the event experience the 2010 extravaganza via computer. The program is also expected to attract more overseas visitors to visit the "real" Expo.

Tencent Inc has been given responsibility for the operation and maintenance of Expo Shanghai Online and to provide other Internet-related services to Expo 2010, after it signed a deal with the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination early this month.

Beijing-based Crystal CG, a project sponsor of Shanghai Expo, would provide digital technology to Expo Shanghai Online.