At least two pavilions of Shanghai World Expo, which ended on Oct. 31, will be preserved since the Expo Bureau has signed contracts with the owners of the Italy and Spain pavilions to take possession of the buildings.

It is talking with the owners of the Saudi Arabia, France and Russia pavilions, who also showed willingness in donating the buildings, said Ding Hao, deputy head of the bureau.

The bureau is working to reopen the two pavilions as soon as possible, Ding said. It needed to install exhibitions in the Italy and Spain pavilions as they are currently empty.

According to original plans, all the Expo pavilions should be removed after the event. But the Expo Bureau decided to keep some pavilions with the consent of their owners.

The Poland, Hong Kong pavilions have been removed from the Expo Park. The Japan Pavilion is also mostly demolished. Owners of some other pavilions are relying on the Expo Bureau to demolish their buildings.

With the theme of "Better City, Better Life," the Shanghai World Expo ran from May 1 to Oct. 31 in the Chinese economic and financial hub.

The Expo, the first of its kind staged in a developing country, attracted 246 participating countries and international organizations and a record number of 73 million visitors.

(Xinhua News Agency January 2, 2011)