Moscow aspires to host EXPO 2010

Moscow is fit to play host to EXPO 2010, Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov said as he was opening a meeting with a survey team of the International Bureau of Expositions/Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the World EXPO authorization body. The BIE team has arrived in the Russian capital to check the city's readiness to host the international exposition. Kasyanov reiterated the Russian government's willingness to convince the BIE top as well as the world's business communities and general public that Moscow will be the most suitable venue for EXPO 2010. The BIE survey team has already visited the VVTs exposition center and adjacent facilities in northern Moscow and studied a plan for the center's large-scale reconstruction. The BIE delegates have discussed preparations for EXPO 2010 with top Moscow officials and representatives of the city's business circles. There are five other bidders for EXPO 2010 besides Russia. Experts name China and Korea among Russia's most serious competitors.