Mikiko Uno, a craftswoman from Japan's Aichi prefecture, together with some locals, has made -- by using recycled soda cans -- national flags of all countries participating in the upcoming Shanghai World Expo.

They will send the flags to Shanghai in May -- a symbol that the World Expo legacy will be passed from Aichi, which hosted the previous World Expo in 2005, to Shanghai.

The Aichi Expo's theme, "Nature's Wisdom," advocated environmental protection and the importance of maintaining harmony between mankind and nature.

The Expo had a positive impact on Aichi, where environmental protection ideas have been deeply rooted among locals and a Maglev train is still carrying visitors from different places to the Expo memorial park.

Many visitors to Aichi still seek out the "World Expo Flat Noodles Restaurant" to sample the restaurant's noodle dishes. The restaurant became famous during the 2005 Expo by serving some 150,000 visitors delicious noodles.

Uno, who is busy preparing her trip to Shanghai, said the flags were a symbol of the relay and succession of the Expo spirit, namely to make human beings live a better life.

The Shanghai World Expo, which will debut on May 1, has the theme of "Better City, Better Life."

Ji Delu, director of the Shanghai World Expo Bureau Research Center, said the Expo will be thought-provoking: "What kind of city will make life better? What kind of life, ideas and practices will make a city better? What kind of city development mode will make the planet better?"

Cities currently accomodate half of the world's population, a sharp rise from the 2 percent some 200 years ago. So it has been an urgent task for mankind to put science to optimal use for urban development, and strike a harmonious balance between cities and their residents.

The Shanghai Expo is expected to attract 70 million visitors, who will have the unique opportunity to appreciate the achievements of modern civilization, especially urbanization.

Shanghai citizens appear to be ready for the big event.

Zhao Dehua, a 54-year-old Shanghai taxi driver, said he will help visitors better understand Shanghai and its locals by offering considerate service.

Meanwhile, Wang Min, a volunteer for the Expo, said, "As a Shanghai citizen, I would try to infect visitors with my love for this city."

(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2010)