The Shanghai World Expo 2010 will be another masterpiece which China presents to the world after successfully hosting the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, a Singapore business leader has said.

During a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua, Lee Peng Shu, Chairman of Community Affairs Committee, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI), said that the reform-and-opening up policy has transformed China, which has been revitalized and rejuvenated.

"Like tens of thousands of overseas Chinese, I have been looking forward to visiting the exhibition," Lee said, adding that "Shanghai World Expo will certainly be as successful and splendid as the Beijing Olympic Games."

Lee spoke highly of the organizing work of the Shanghai World Expo, saying that success only graces those who prepares well.

"Good beginning is half success. So far all the organizing work goes very well, and the several promotion events held in Singapore were quite successful," he said.

"Looking at the countdown board of the World Expo always makes me excited about the upcoming great event," Lee said, adding that "as the biggest business association in Singapore, the SCCCI is enthusiastic and supportive of the event."

He said that the SCCCI is organizing a 100-member delegation to visit the Expo, and such delegation has been signed up long ago. He added that not only Chinese groups, Malaysian and Indian groups in the city-state also showed their interests to visit the Expo, which is to be held from May to October this year.

The World Expo 2010 is like a interesting combination of the Great Wall and Yao Ming, the famous basketball star, which symbolizes China is integrating perfectly the ancient civilization with the modern fashion, the East with the West, and stepping into the new era of brilliance, he said.

Lee stressed that the theme of the Shanghai World Expo -- Better City, Better Life -- is apt.

In his view, to live a happy, natural and meaningful life in modern cities, people should get help from the resources including science and technology to maintain a green, sustainable and harmonious relation with the nature and society, which a lot can be learnt from the exhibition.

Lee highlighted that Singapore will participate in the World Expo, introducing the city-state's achievements in developing a green and sustainable city.

The business leader said that the Shanghai World Expo is a golden opportunity for China to promote herself and learn from the other countries, which no doubt will reap in great success.

By dedicating an area of 5.28-square-km at the core of the city to exhibitions, events and forums. The World Expo 2010 will attract over 240 nations, regions and international organizations to take part in the exhibition as well as 70 million visitors from home and abroad.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2010)