US signs up to participate in Shanghai's World Expo

[Coventina]

Source: AFP

SHANGHAI (AFP) — The United States signed up Friday the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, officials said, making it the last major country with diplomatic ties to China to join the event.

A total of 192 countries have committed to the biggest-ever World Expo, running from May to October, which, alongside the Olympics, is designed to be part of a two-pronged demonstration of China's rising global clout.

Fundraising difficulties had threatened to prevent the US from building a pavilion for the Expo but organisers said they got a boost from donations in the past two months from Pepsi, General Electric and KFC owner Yum! Brands.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced last week the pavilion, which US law prohibits from being taxpayer-funded, would go ahead.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jalarPFRLkUrfc4TWHQcLnsmPIPA

[Bicoastal]

1. They still do those things?

Hmm.