Haibao and Kookaburra, the Australian mascot

The Australian Minister of Trade Simon Crean speaks at the ceremony.

Peter Tesch, Australia's Expo commissioner general, addresses the ceremony.

Hua Junduo, China's commissioner general for World Expo 2010, speaks.

The ceremony

A "good luck" tree is raised from the ground to the roof.

Kookaburra, the Australian mascot for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

An artist's rendition of the Australian Pavilion

Australia yesterday unveiled its official mascot for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo - a kookaburra – in Shanghai and invited Chinese people to suggest an appropriate name for the native Australian bird.

The winner of the name competition will receive a seven-day holiday for three people in Australia.

"Clever, confident, and resourceful with a cheeky sense of humor, the kookaburra reflects well the personality of the Australian people," said Peter Tesch, commissioner-general for the Australia Pavilion.

"We wanted to showcase a uniquely Australian animal that was less well-known to Chinese people, thereby demonstrating the depth and diversity of Australia - its people, its achievements and its culture."

Hua Junduo, China's commissioner general for World Expo 2010, said he could still remember the unique sound of kookaburras every morning when he traveled to Australia. It represented the fine friendship between the two nations, he added.

The name competition began yesterday and will run for six weeks. Entries can be made via www.australianpavilion.com, the newly launched Australia Pavilion Website.

The Australian Minister of Trade Simon Crean said he would welcome a wonderful Chinese name for the kookaburra. The reason for the choice of name has to be included in less than 25 words in the entry.

The main structure of the 4,800-square-meter Australia Pavilion was completed yesterday. A “good luck” tree was raised from the ground to the roof in a unique Australian tradition. The tree will be planted near the pavilion.