World Expos will enter a new stage beginning with the Shanghai Expo 2010, marking a new era with more participation by developing countries in huge world events.

The first World Expo debuted in London in 1851, though the concept of World Expo originated in France, which wanted to promote the sale of merchandise imported from countries in the Orient.

It has been 156 years and the World Expo is still showing its strong vitality. In my view, World Expos can be divided into four phases.

The first phase, from 1851 to 1928, was the beginning of World Expo development. Also, there was a signed convention that divided World Expos into two kinds - registered, which run for longer periods, and specialized.

The World Expos in the second phase, from 1933 to 1940, started to have a special theme, due to this convention. This is what differentiates them from other commercial exhibitions. The themes of World Expos address issues of public concern.

The World Expo in Brussels in 1958 was the first Expo after World War II, which marked the beginning of the third Expo development phase. During this period, the Expos expanded and flourished.

The first World Expo in Asia was held in Osaka, Japan, in 1970. It was a great success that attracted 64 million visitors during six months.

As I said, the fourth Expo stage will date from the exhibition to be held in Shanghai. Today, developing countries will host the Expo, which marks a very important change in the world's development.

A World Expo is considered one of the grandest events in the world, along with the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup. It is a chance for the world to get to know about China as well as a chance for China to learn about the world. Having lived abroad for 25 years, I found that the perspectives of China from those who have visited are very different from those who haven't been here.

So, it is very good that the millions of visitors in 2010 will come to know about our country. Also, the Chinese people can view the essential aspects of other countries just by visiting the Expo site.

Shanghai Expo will also boost the cooperation between China and the international community and encourage China to seek an urbanization approach that is suitable to the country.

(The article is translated from Wu's speech at Nanjing Library in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, delivered as part of the World Expo tour exhibition in September.)