The global financial crisis will have only limited impacts on the Shanghai World Expo 2010, an official with the organizer said on Sunday.

Wan Jifei, vice director of the Shanghai World Expo Executive Committee, pledged that the financial crisis would not affect the overall success of the Expo at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of China's political advisory body.

Although some of the participants had difficulties in raising funds, none of them had yet quitted, said Wan, a member of the Standing Committee of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

"I think all the participating countries are willing to use the Shanghai Expo as an opportunity to boost their national images," Wan said.

"China is willing to offer assistance to help them cut costs and increase efficiencies," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2009)