People around the world hailed the opening of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo on Friday evening, a proud beginning that featured a high-tech display of dazzling artistic performances, laser lights, and fireworks.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton celebrated the opening of the American Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo with a reception in Washington.

Clinton invited business leaders to attend the reception, which featured a live video feed from the US pavilion in Shanghai.

She said the pavilion promotes a "people to people connection" between the United States and China, which is "the base of a long-lasting relationship."

Clinton thanked the corporate partners that participated, saying the pavilion was not only a partnership between China and the United States, but also a partnership between the American government and the country's corporations.

In Milan, the Chinese community was extremely proud of China as Shanghai opened the gates to the expo that underscores the Chinese financial center's comeback as a major world city.

"I couldn't watch live the ceremony because I was working, but I knew about it and felt very proud of being a Chinese," said Qu Jiankang, a 35-year-old worker.

"I am going to watch online a part of the event tonight as I go back home. Everybody in our community feels proud of the Shanghai Expo," said a young man who gave his name as Marco.

The media and business community in Pakistan hailed the expo, which attracted 189 countries to the six-month event.

Almost all Pakistani TV channels reported the expo or did live broadcasts of the opening ceremony, which was attended by President Hu Jintao and other leaders, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

TV "Express 24/7" described the expo as the biggest-ever festival which will attract millions of people from around the world.

Pakistan's most viewed channel, "Geo TV," said "the world's biggest expo is being inaugurated through this colorful ceremony full of Chinese culture."