Shanghai World Expo to host forum on urban innovation, sustainable development

SHANGHAI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A summit meeting on urban innovation and sustainable development would be held on Oct. 31, 2010, the last day of the Shanghai World Expo, organizers said Wednesday.

The summit forum will be jointly hosted by the Organizing Committee of the Shanghai World Expo, the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), and United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

While addressing the fourth expo exhibitors' meeting Wednesday, Zhu Yonglei, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, said delegates including heads of state from different countries, leaders of international organizations, mayors of Chinese and foreign cities and entrepreneurs would be invited to attend the forum.

Zhu estimated there would be an attendance of 1,500 to 2,000 at the summit.

He said a declaration from the Shanghai Expo on sustainable development in cities would be adopted at the summit forum.

The 2010 Shanghai World Expo will remain open in Shanghai from May 1 through to Oct. 31, 2010. It is expected to attract 70 million visitors, of whom 95 percent will be domestic visitors.

A total of 241 countries and international organizations had confirmed participation in the Shanghai World Expo as of Wednesday.

More than eight million expo tickets have been sold since March 27, 2009 when group ticketing started. Ticket sales for individuals began on July 1.