Sixty-two countries and international organizations have confirmed their participation in the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, announced the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination (BSWEC) on Friday.

"Our ultimate goal is to attract more than 200 countries and international organizations, outnumbering the 155 that were at the 2000 World Expo in Hanover, Germany" said Zhou Hanmin, deputy director of the BSWEC.

Zhou said the confirmed participants include 22 countries from Africa, 11 from Europe, 15 from Asia and four from Oceania.

International organizations including the United Nations and the World Bank have also officially confirmed they will participate in the expo.

Franklin Lavin, US Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade who paid a recent visit to China, said that the United States will support and likely participate in 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

The official added that the construction of the World Expo park will kick off this month.

(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2006)