Chinese President Hu Jintao called for sound preparations in the run-up to the Expo 2010 Shanghai China and hoped the success of the event would have positive influence on the global economy.

“The Shanghai World Expo is the second world pageant in the country after the Beijing Olympics. Hosting the event successfully is very important to promoting our exchanges and cooperation with other countries and regions across the world,” said Hu on July 15 at an exhibition in Beijing on the Expo. The event would also have a positive effect in revitalizing the global economy, he said.

Hu made the remarks at an exhibition in Beijing’s Capital Museum, which includes artifacts, pictures and videos that recorded the 150-year-plus development of the event.

The exhibition also has a section that shows preparations for the Expo 2010, which features a 3-D animated short video of a tour of the site and the models of 60 pavilions.

President Hu visited the exhibition along with other senior Chinese leaders, including Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang.

They praised the preparations and expressed their appreciation to all the participants.