Shanghai’s municipal government could give the green light for the US$3.6 billion Disney theme park project this week, the South China Morning Post reported, citing city mayor Han Zheng. The mayor did not confirm the central-government’s endorsement of the long-awaited theme park, but a government representative with direct knowledge of the matter said the National Development and Reform Commission had already approved the project. The theme park would give a significant boost to the local economy, which has suffered in recent months. It has been widely speculated that an official announcement would be made on the project during US President Barack Obama’s visit to China between November 15 to 18, though a Shanghai government spokesperson denied such claims.
Categories