China Pavilion receives biggest boost from a donor

Zhong Yanqun, fulltime deputy director of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai Executive Committee receives a cheque from the Shanghai Tobacco (Group) Corp. Yang Xiong, executive deputy director of the Executive Committee of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai and Shanghai Executive Vice Mayor, delivers a speech. scene of the signing ceremony The China Pavilion yesterday received its largest donation - 200 million yuan (US$29.33 million) - from the Shanghai Tobacco (Group) Corp. Shanghai Executive Vice Mayor Yang Xiong said the donation indicated the corporation's great support for Expo 2010. He hoped more Chinese firms would follow suit and support the construction of the China Pavilion. Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, and Shi Chao, general manager of the Shanghai Tobacco (Group) Corp, signed the donation agreement. Public donations for the majestic red-painted China Pavilion began in late 2007. Minimum donation is set at one yuan (13 US cents).