"The Shanghai World Expo will give the world huge business opportunities. The right choice will certainly bring about wonderful returns," said Mayor Chen in an interview with Xinhua news agency.

The government announced in December 1999 it would support Shanghai's bid for the right to hold the 2010 World Expo. The winner will be decided by voting at the 132nd general assembly of the Bureau of International Exposition in December.

In selecting the world expo venue, it is necessary to fully consider the capabilities and advantages of competing candidate cities, Chen said. The only criterion should be the success of the world expo, not other factors such as geography.

"Doing so will not only conform with the tenets of BIE, but also promote exchanges and cooperation among peoples of different countries, which will in turn promote the development of the international exposition business," said Chen.

It is estimated that the 2010 Shanghai World Expo will attract 70 million visitors and direct investment for the Shanghai Expo will exceed US$3 billion, according to Chen.

Countries attending the Shanghai Expo can rent booths to promote their tour packages designed to attract Chinese tourists, the mayor suggested.

Statistics show that last year China's 12 million outward-bound tourists spent US$20 billion overseas.

While detailing the business potential of the Shanghai World Expo, Chen also talked about Shanghai's preparatory work, including transport construction, and the related relocation and preservation of historical and cultural features.

According to Chen, by 2010, the city's rail network will have grown from the current three lines with a combined length of 65 kilometers to 15 lines with a total length of 400 kilometers. Its capacity will increase from 800,000 passengers at present to five million.

The city's expressway network will also be extended to 650 kilometers so that a public trans-port network supported mainly by rail and supplemented by road transport will be formed by 2010.

(eastday.com September 19, 2002)