An artist's rendition of the Nepal pavilion [en.expo2010]

KATHMANDU: Nepal is preparing to take part in Expo 2010 in China's Shanghai from May 1 to October 31 next year.

According to the Implementing Experts Group (IEG), the official organizer appointed by the government of Nepal for Nepal's national participation in the expo, it has invested around 300 million Nepali rupees (about $4 million) to prepare the Nepal Pavilion to showcase at the expo.

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Talking to Xinhua during a promotion program held in Kathmandu on Monday, Amrit Shakya of the IEG Chairman said the main objective for Nepal to participate in this expo is to show Nepalese cultural activities. "We expect 30 million people will visit Nepal Pavilion during the expo," he said.

According to him, Nepal's Pavilion, covering floor space of 3, 600 square meters, will feature an architecturally, aesthetically and culturally rich indigenous Nepali settlement with the replica of Bouddha Stupa in its central part.

The program was attended by the Chinese delegation of Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination.

The delegation, which is currently in the capital, is led by Huang Jianzhi, Deputy Director General of coordination bureau of Shanghai World Expo.

Introducing the preparation for the expo during the program, Huang said Nepal and China have kept the friendly relationship for over 1,000 years, adding that the traditional friendship and close cooperation between the two peoples have been developing incessantly.

"We hope that Nepal Pavilion can become a new platform in promoting the cordial relation between our countries," Huang said.