COFCO becomes Sponsor of Expo 2010

scene of ceremony

Yang Xiong, Shanghai Executive Vice Mayor and executive deputy director of the Executive Committee of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai, and Yu Xubo, a director and President of COFCO at the ceremony

Zhong Yanqun, fulltime deputy director of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai Executive Committee, delivers a speech.

Yu delivers a speech.

ong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, offers COFCO a bronze plate.

COFCO yesterday became the 13th senior sponsor of Expo 2010 after signing a deal with the organizer.

Expo Shanghai has 184 days of exhibition and up to 70 million estimated visitors, the food supply for visitors is a crucial issue, said Zhong Yanqun, fulltime deputy director of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai Executive Committee.

COFCO is a leading farm produce and food product manufacturer as well as a food service provider in China, she said. It offers products such as farm produces, food and oils, vegetable and fruits, soft drinks, sugar and drinking alcohol, Zhong added. She also hoped that the group will use Expo 2010 to showcase China's great achievements in food industry.

Yu Xubo, a director and President of COFCO, said that COFCO is focusing on the production chain from field to dinner table and the group will offer nutritious and healthy food, high-level living space and services by using renewable natural resources.

Yu also said that the group wants to be a promoter of harmony between human and nature, a guide of healthy way of shopping and a promoter and a pioneer to rebuild beautiful lives in cities.

The group will offer its contribution to Expo 2010 as senior sponsor of the event, Yu added.

Also yesterday, the cooking oil "Fortune" of the group became Expo 2010's exclusive edible oil product and the "Great Wall" wine became Expo 2010's exclusive wine product.

COFCO is ranked by the Fortune Magazine as one of the world's 500 biggest companies. It also runs the largest food business in China.