“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.

On April 20, Shanghai World Expo held the first trial operation to ensure all preparations for the event are in order.The organizers will hold parts of the performances in Expo garden. Some of emergency drills will also be performed, including contingency plans for natural disasters and accidents.

An estimated 200,000 visitors crowded into the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai for the first public preview day on Tuesday, forcing organizers to abandon security checks and causing chaos on a nearby subway line.

Police in World Expo host city Shanghai detained more than 6,000 people in a crime sweep, state press said Tuesday, as they ramp up security ahead of the huge event's May 1 kick-off.