World Expo highlights technology

One of the slogans for this big event in Shanghai is "Technology makes the World Expo more brilliant". At press conference Monday, on the sidelines of the CPPCC session, all talk was on how science and technology can do their part to improve life in the city.

CPPCC Vice Chairman and Science and Technology Minister, Wan Gang, told journalists that related departments have launched a special campaign to promote the use of science and technology during the expo. The aim is to take advantage of hi-tech initiatives to create a better life in cities.

Wan Gang, CPPCC Vice Chairman, Science & Techonogy Min, said, "Take new energy for example, the expo park covers a total of more than five square kilometers. It will become the largest adopter of solar energy. The solar energy power generators can reach a capacity of 4.6 megawatts."

Wan Gang said the Shanghai World Expo will see zero-emission vehicles within the exhibition area. Various electric and hybrid cars will be available. He said Shanghai also aims to offer half a million families access to the tri-networks, or the combination of telecommunications, cable TV and the Internet, so they can watch the Expo online.

Wan said, "At the Expo park, we will adopt the first TD-LTE network in the world, which allows a maximum download speed of more than 100 Mbps. We will further promote development from third-generation communications to the fourth-generation."

CPPCC members also say the cost of the expo will be contained. On Sunday, the mayor of Shanghai Han Zheng denied rumors that the expo is costing 400 billion yuan. He said the construction costs will not exceed 18 billion yuan.