The four co-chairs of the ongoing China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) unveiled on Monday a model of the US pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishang(L5), Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo(L1), US State Secretary Hillary Clinton (L4) and US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner (R1) unveil the model of the US National Pavilion for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo at the US State Department in Washington, on July 27, 2009. [Xinhua]

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan, Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner were impressed after jointly lifting a cover to reveal the white model at the US State Department. The pavilion will provide a picture of what US cities might look like in 2030.

Wang said the US pavilion was important to the Shanghai Expo and he appreciated the efforts of the US State Department in facilitating US participation in the expo.

Clinton said the expo "offers an unprecedented opportunity for US companies and organizations to hoist their flag in one of the most important centers of world commerce and an important cultural center."

On July 10, US and Chinese representatives signed an agreement in Shanghai, China, on US participation in the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

The US is the 212th party to sign up for the World Expo from May 1 to October 31 next year.

The US Pavilion -- at a planned size of some 6,000 square meters -- will be one of the biggest at the Expo.

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2009)