A dozen Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai will host a pavilion showing "art of urban life" at the World Expo to be held in Aichi, Japan, said Gao Yan, chairwoman of the Organizing Committee of China Pavilion, in Beijing Thursday.

At present, offices have been set up in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Dalian, Qingdao and Hangzhou, as well as in Hunan and Hainan provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to make preparations for related activities.

The World Expo 2005 will be held from March 25 to Sept. 25, 2005 in Aichi, Japan.

The theme of this World Expo is "wisdom of nature." With the theme of "nature, city and harmony: the art of life", the China Pavilion will endeavor to demonstrate the Chinese people's understanding of harmonious development of nature and city, and their new lifestyle built up since China's reforms and opening-up in 1978.

The blueprint of the China Pavilion was selected from some 17 submitted from both at home and abroad, said Gao, also commissioner general of China to the World Expo 2005 and vice-chairwoman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

The CCPIT, on behalf of the Chinese government, will organize the China Pavilion.

Gao said this is the first time for China to organizing its major cities as a whole to attract global attention and said it will be helpful for these cities' development.

The China Pavilion, according to Gao, mixed Chinese traditions with advanced technologies and tries to show the peaceful coexistence and harmonious integrity of nature and city.

The China Pavilion, with an area of 1620 square meters, is one of the largest pavilions among Asian pavilions.

With 125 countries and eight international organizations as official participants, the World Expo 2005 is expected to receive 15 million visitors.

During the World Expo 2005, CCPIT will organize activities such as the China Pavilion Day, which is on May 19, the City Promotion Day, the City Promotion Week, the 21st Century City Development Forum, and hold Chinese local theatrical performances.

Gao said this is also an opportunity for Shanghai to learn how to hold a large international exhibition. The city will hold the World Expo 2010.

The World Expo is held every five years. It is renowned as the Olympics of economy, science and technology.

(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2004)