Zhu made the remarks here while meeting with Gilles Noghes, President of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) and Vincente Gonzalez Loscertales, BIE Secretary-General.

"The Chinese government fully supports Shanghai's bid," the Chinese premier said. "China is world's largest developing country. If Shanghai wins the bid, the world exposition will be more popular and better functions as a link among all nations in the world."

"As a great gathering to present the latest achievements of civilizations in the world, the world exposition has contributed to strengthening international exchanges and cooperation and development of world economy," he noted.

On their part, Noghes and Loscertales agreed that it is of significance for China to bid for the world exposition and Shanghai's bidding work has been well done so far.

Following inspection trips to the city, the BIE said it believes that Shanghai is fully capable of hosting a successful world exposition.

Moscow, Mexico City, Poland's Wroclow, South Korea's Yeoso and Shanghai have presented their bids to the BIE to host the World Exposition in 2010.

The BIE will decide which city wins the bid at its next general assembly in Monaco in December.

(Xinhua News Agency September 27, 2002)