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.

With less than two weeks to go before the start of the World Expo Shanghai, the Korea Business Pavilion showcasing 12 major conglomerates was unveiled yesterday. According to the Korea International Trade Association, which oversees Korean participation in the world’s largest exposition, the three-story pavilion is built on a 3,000-square-meter (32,291-square-feet) area.

Organisers of Shanghai's World Expo gave members of the public a preview of the massive event Tuesday as they tested facilities and public transportation 10 days before the official start. More than 1.25 million people were expected to visit over the six preview days before the official May 1 opening, with about 70 percent of the pavilions ready to welcome visitors, the Shanghai Daily reported.

Indonesia aims to portray its identity and achievements to the world through its participation in the upcoming World Expo Shanghai China (WESC) 2010. Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said Friday that Indonesia would take advantage of its achievements in various sectors during the last decade.

If it's not the Greatest Show on Earth, then the World Expo opening next month in Shanghai is surely the biggest, in keeping with China's striving to do everything on a gargantuan scale.

This month, the USC Center on Public Diplomacy launched two new research projects relevant to public diplomacy efforts from and in China: the Shanghai Expo 2010 and Confucius Institutes.