The World Expo 2010 in Shanghai is a very timely event, not only because its theme is very relevant to the fast urbanizing world, but also because China has emerged as a mature member of the international community, said the chief of the UN's trade and development agency.

"I think it comes at a right time for urban issues. It comes at a right time also to showcase what China can do as a mature member of the global community," Supachai Panitchpakdi, secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), told Xinhua in a recent interview.

The theme of the Shanghai World Expo is "Better City, Better Life," the first time that the Expos have chosen "city" as their theme.

"It's very relevant because as you know we are moving into an urbanized world," said Supachai.

"In a couple of decades from now more than half of the global population will be living in urban areas ... some people are even saying 70 percent in the next couple of decades," he said.

"So I think this is a timely event, timely in a way that is very much forward-looking," he added.

Supachai, also former chief of the Geneva-based World Trade Organization, stressed that urban areas must be made "livable," which means city dwellers should have jobs, secure environment as well as access to education and cultural activities.

"And it must be able to be sustainable. You cannot overload the urban cities," he said.