The organizers of the Shanghai World Expo are working to allay participants' concerns about construction, financial assistance and services ahead of the 2010 event.

"Since the first meeting for the Expo in 2006, preparations have been moving ahead smoothly under the watchful eye of the government," Hua Junduo, the event's commissioner general, told a participants' meeting yesterday.

Nearly 400 Expo officials and company representatives from home and abroad were briefed on topics such as theme development, the construction of pavilions, communications and promotions and market development.

To date, 180 countries and international organizations have said they will participate in the 184-day event, which kicks off on May 1, 2010.

In response to questions from participants about efforts to clean up former industrial areas that will be used for the Expo and the process for handing over plots, Vice-Mayor Yang Xiong said the government has "basically completed soil remediation at some polluted lots at the Expo site and will provide geological survey reports to each participant".

The organizer will meet with representatives of developing countries to help them choose themes for their pavilions.

They also launched a website yesterday provide information. Other concerns raised by participants include:

The Maglev train: No decisions have been made about whether the city's Maglev line will be extended to the Expo site, but Chen Xianjin, deputy director-general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, said the organizers are working vigorously to promote the issue.

Disabled visitors: A special pavilion for disabled people will be constructed. Services for the physically disabled have been included in the Expo plans.

Visitor flows: With a record 70 million visitors expected to attend the event, organizers have come up with detailed plans about how to handle the flow of people to ensure the shortest possible wait times.

A reservation system will be put in place, and participants will be encouraged to use it.

"The information provided at the meeting was helpful," Isaac Dos Anjos, general commissioner of Expo Angola, said.

(China Daily November 16, 2007)