scene of the signing ceremony

scene of the signing ceremony

The Baosteel Group Corp has become the 10th global partner of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai, China's largest steel company announced yesterday, joining others including China Eastern Airlines and Coca-Cola.

Shanghai-based Baosteel is the sole steel maker global partner for the 2010 event.

Baosteel Chairman Xu Lejiang said the firm will provide a wide range of best-quality steel products and services to support the construction of Expo venues.

Xu vowed to work closely with the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination over the coming more than two years and fulfill its commitments.

Financial terms were not disclosed for the partnership deal and Baosteel didn't say how much steel might be used.

The partnership provides a good opportunity for Baosteel to fulfill its social responsibilities and could further improve its corporate image, said Yang Xiong, Shanghai's vice mayor and the deputy director of the Expo executive committee.

World Expo 2010's global partners can use the brand in promotions worldwide. Global partners also get priority status to open a corporate pavilion at the site.

Other companies committed as global partners for the Expo include China Mobile, Bank of Communications, Siemens and the State Grid Corp of China.

Baosteel, among the Fortune 500 companies for the past four years, has supplied products to projects such as the "Bird's Nest," or the Olympic stadium for the 2008 Beijing Games.

Shanghai Vice Mayor Yang Xiong

Xu Lejiang, chairman of Baosteel