Zhao Qizheng, member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, speaks at the third plenary meeting of the Second Session of the 11th National Committee of the CPPCC

The World Expo 2010 to be held in Shanghai can help China and the world ride through the global financial crisis, said a Chinese political advisor in Beijing yesterday.

"It's hopeful the Shanghai World Expo will be a precious opportunity to help China overcome economic difficulties and lift the world out of the crisis shadow," said Zhao Qizheng, head of the Committee for Foreign Affairs, a working organ of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body.

Zhao cited the example of the World Expo 1933 in the US city of Chicago, which attracted nearly 23 million people and created about 100,000 jobs directly and indirectly.

The Chicago World Expo greatly boosted people's courage and confidence in fighting the Great Depression, said Zhao at a speech to the annual session of the CPPCC National Committee.

Tourism boom during the Expo will stimulate the development of modern services such as information, transport, logistics and financial industries in regions surrounding the host city, said Yang Duoliang, chairman of the CPPCC Anhui Provincial Committee.

He urged provinces and cities in and near the Yangtze River Delta area, where Shanghai is situated, to jointly build more convenient, efficient transport and communication systems.

The area should take the Expo as a chance to deepen cooperation in scientific technologies, culture, ecological protection and urban-rural integration, said Yang in a speech to the session.

The proposal was jointly raised by Yang and his counterparts in Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province and Shanghai Municipality, all in the Yangtze River Delta.