U.S. lawmakers, religous leader express best wishes for Shanghai Expo

NEW YORK, April 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. lawmakers and religious leader on Friday expressed their best wishes to the forthcoming Shanghai Expo at a grand reception at Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in New York.

Assemblyman of New York State Willian Colton said he shared the "happiness" and "excitement" at the coming great World Exhibitino 2010 in Shanghai.

Recalling his exciting trip to Shanghai three years ago, Colton said, "I saw the great city and the great people of Shanghai and they know that the Waterfront of Shanghai has attracted many people from all over the world. It is very appropriate that it has been chosen as the site of the 2010 World Expo."

Arthur Schneier, an American rabbi, and founder and head of The Appeal of Conscience  Foundation, speaks during a reception celebrating the forthcoming Shanghai World Expo at Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in New York, the United States,  on April 9, 2010. U.S. lawmakers and religious leader on Friday expressed their best  wishes to the forthcoming Shanghai Expo.(Xinhua/Wu Kaixiang)

"This is a very important event for the people in the city, all over the world, including New York City," he said.

Colton later presented to Peng Keyu, Chinese Consul General in New York, together with his counterpart Felix W. Ortiz, a New York City citation, saying which is to express their "congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of the opening of Expo 2010 Shanghai China."

By telling the big changes he saw in Shanghai during his several trips to Shanghai in the 1990s, Ortiz said with confidence that Shanghai is to be a "big winner."

Peter Koo, a Republican member of the New York City Council, also expressed his sincere wishes for the Shanghai Expo.