scene of the signing ceremony

Shanghai Executive Vice Mayor Yang Xiong delivers a speech.

Teng Yilong, board chairman of SIIC, delivers a speech.

scene of the signing ceremony

scene of the signing ceremony

A state-owned enterprise yesterday became the first in Shanghai to sign a global partnership deal with the 2010 World Expo.

Shanghai Industrial Investment (Holding) Co Ltd (SIIC) will cooperate with Expo organizers in industrial investment and pharmaceuticals.

Shanghai Executive Vice Mayor Yang Xiong said the deal indicated that SIIC was fulfilling its social responsibility by supporting the city's largest event as Shanghai's largest and most competitive conglomerate overseas.

The company has established nine overseas regional headquarters covering infrastructure, information technology, financial investment, hotels and tourism, auto parts as well as property markets.

Shanghai Expo organizers are now working on a promotional plan involving all sponsors in the run-up to the 600-day countdown to the 2010 event. The 600-day countdown is on September 8.

Teng Yilong, board chairman of SIIC, vowed the compnay would make an all-out effort to promote and serve Shanghai Expo and fulfill its obligations as a global partner.