Shanghai World Expo sponsors plan to launch a global campaign on December 17 to mark the 500-day countdown to the 2010 event, a top official said yesterday.
The promotion will feature the marketing of Expo registered products and other activities, Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, said at a sponsors conference in Shanghai.
The effort is the first time that all corporate sponsors will launch a joint campaign.
Senior officials of the Expo's global partners and sponsors were present at the conference.
"China Mobile will spare no effort to contribute to the expo," Wang Xiaojie, director of China Mobile's Shanghai World Expo Commission, said at the conference.
Expo 2010 cannot be a success without the support of its sponsors, Hong said.
Shanghai Expo organizers will give sponsors that contributed the most to the event an award in January, said Hong. Organizers will establish a jury composed of local media and institutions to name the winners.
Hong encouraged more corporations to cooperate with Expo 2010.
The event provides a platform for corporations to showcase their achievements and business culture, said Zhong Yanqun, deputy director of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai Executive Committee.
Hong said corporate involvement could help shield Expo 2010 from the global financial crisis. He said the crisis has not yet affected preparation work and that organizers have fully prepared for any impact brought about by the uncertain financial outlook.
Expo 2010 now has 12 global partners including Coca-Cola, Siemens, China Eastern Airlines and China Mobile.
Partners are at the top tier of the sponsorship system. Expo 2010 also has 10 senior sponsors and six project sponsors.
Also yesterday, Hong Kong signed a participation contract with Expo organizers for the Urban Best Practice Area to show off the special administrative region's "intelligent" lifestyles based on a multifunctional smart card for public transport, car parking, shopping and entertainment.
(Shanghai Daily October 21, 2008)