Near the center of the World Expo grounds, the crimson-painted, crown-shaped China Pavilion towers over other nations' exhibits as a physical display of the country's pride and growing power.

In exactly one week, the countdown clocks in Shanghai will all finally hit zero. This is because this year May Day will also be Opening Day for the 2010 World Expo, an event that has been largely ignored in the United States (at least until very recently)...

The Ottawa-born Rowswell is famous throughout China as a comedian and television commentator and he's one of Canada's secret weapons in its bid to create a buzz at what is almost certainly the largest nation-branding event ever staged.

“China expects the Shanghai Expo to push up its GDP by 1 percent, owing to increased consumption, an expanded infrastructure and improvement of their citizens’ global awareness,” said Cho Hwan-eik, president of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency.

China has proposed changes to a U.S.-drafted resolution that would impose tough new sanctions against Iran to pressure the Islamic Republic to start negotiations on its suspect nuclear program, U.N. diplomats said Wednesday.

President Hu Jintao's recent attendance at the Nuclear Security Summit and his participation in the second summit of the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) members have further showcased China's positive political position as a responsible power with increasing international influence.

China's image...has witnessed an improvement globally, according to a new poll. Of the 27 countries polled on China under a BBC-sponsored survey, 41 per cent viewed the nation as having a positive influence on the world, two points up from previous year...

Lush, landscaped parts of the Purana Qila – the 16th century Old Fort in the capital – reverberated with the divine melody of Buddhist music as a Chinese festival began in India. The concert was held in the capital Tuesday.