scene of the meeting

Shanghai Expo organizers held a seminar in Tokyo to promote the event to local officials as the first overseas promotion campaign this year was launched in Japan yesterday.

Asian countries will host two consecutive World Expos after Japan's success in Aichi in 2005. China will host the next in Shanghai in 2010, a strong sign the world is turning its attention to Asia, said Kong Xuanyou, Minister-Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Japan, at the seminar.

Japan has a wealth of experience in both hosting and participating at World Expos. The cooperation between China and Japan at World Expo would also improve relationships among the two nations' citizens, Kong said.

Shanghai Week, part of organizers' overseas promotion plan for Expo 2010, will consist of a series of activities including seminars, photo shows and a ceremony unveiling the Japanese ambassadors to Shanghai Expo.

"Shanghai Expo is not only an Expo of China, but also an Expo of Asia," said Yoshitake Kimata, secretary general of councilors' alliance of Japan supporting Shanghai Expo. "Japan will fully support the event."

Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, made the keynote speech at the seminar, introducing the latest progress in the preparation of Expo.

Hong emphasized the importance of overseas ticket sales and promotion in his speech. Hong said among the 3.5 million expected international visitors to the Expo, Japan would be the biggest tourist source.

Expo's overseas tickets will be sold by regional agencies, Hong said. Several Japanese companies, including JTB and Kinki, have expressed their wishes to become the general agency in Japan.

The Japan agency will be decided during the second quarter this year, said Hong.

Visitor numbers to Shanghai Expo in 2010 could swell to up to 100 million, said Takashi Sasaki, head of JTB during his speech at the seminar. He said he believed it was possible to attract at least one million Japanese tourists to Shanghai.

Kong Xuanyou, Minister-Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Japan

Yoshitake Kimata, secretary general of councilors' alliance of Japan supporting Shanghai Expo

Sakutarou Tanino, former Japanese ambassador to China

Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination

Takashi Sasaki, head of JTB