scene of the signing ceremony

China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation (CBPMC) will be responsible for Expo 2010 ticket production after it signed a contract with organizers today.

Chen Xianjin, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, and Zhang Shucang, deputy general manager of CBPMC, signed the deal on behalf of the two sides.

The benchmark price for one-day admission is set at 160 yuan (US$23.05), while the price on peak days or weekends may be raised so that the site won't be overcrowded, organizers announced earlier. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale on September 9.