Milan is preparing for its bid to win the right to host the World Expo in 2015. With the theme, "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life," Milan is in competition with Izmir, Turkey. On Monday, May 28, Mr. Wu, President of the BIE, and Mr. Loscertales, Secretary-General of the BIE, met with Italian President, Mr. Napolitano. In the delegation accompanied by Italian Ambassador to UNESCO and BIE Delegate, H.E. Giuseppe Moscato, were: Mrs. Letizia Moratti, Mayor of Milan; Hon. Vittorio Craxi, Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs; H.E. Claudio Moreno, MFA Coordinator of the Milan candidature to Expo 2015; and Mr. Paolo Glisenti, Secretary-General of the Milano-Expo 2015 Committee.

On Tuesday, May 29th, Mr. Wu and Mr. Loscertales will meet with the Italian Prime Minister, Mr. Prodi. The meeting will be held in the presence of the above delegation, as well as Minister Plenipotentiary Giandomenico Magliano, MFA Director-General for Economic Cooperation; Mr. Francesco Scarlata, Minister Plenipotentiary; and Dr. Fabrizio Pagani, Head of the Office of the Under-Secretary of State.

BIE President Mr. Wu and Secretary-General Mr. Loscertales will then be received by Mr. Massimo D'Alema, Vice President of the Council of Ministers and the Minister for Foreign Affairs.