China offers strong support to help facilitate US participation in the 2010 Shanghai Expo and hopes the US side soon to confirm its participation, China's Ambassador to the United States said on Friday.

Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong told attendees at a breakfast with potential US corporate sponsors of the to-be-constructed US pavilion at the Expo that the US participation will be a good opportunity for the United States to increase friendship, understanding and exchange with China and other participating countries.

Since the Expo will contribute to restoring confidence in the world economy, Zhou said he hopes US corporations to look at things in a long-term perspective and provide active support to facilitate US participation in the Expo.

So far 185 countries and 47 international organizations have confirmed their participation in the Expo, which will run from May 1 through October 31 in Shanghai, China.

Last year, the US Department of State picked a nonprofit institution to prepare US participation in the Expo and the basic floor design of the US pavilion has been completed with joint China-US efforts.

However, since US laws prohibit direct governmental involvement in preparing such participation, fundraising and other preparations must be done by the private sector.

So far, the US nonprofit preparation institution hasn't raised enough funds for the participation.

(Xinhua News Agency March 22, 2009)