China has formally applied to host the 2010 World Exposition, Shanghai Daily News reported. Shanghai’s acting mayor Cheng Liangyu said that preparing for the expo would require a minimum investment of US$2.5bn, but that the expo would stimulate the city’s infrastructure and service sector.
Shanghai is one of six cities bidding to host the event. The city is preparing for a visit from the Bureau of International Expositions in March and will find out whether its bid is successful in December.