Date: 03/03 /2009

Yang Xiong, member of the Organizing Committee of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai, executive deputy director of the Executive Committee of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai and Shanghai Executive Vice Mayor, delivers a speech at the signing ceremony.

World Expo 2010 organizer signs contracts with four local companies as domestic ticket sellers.

World Expo 2010 organizer has signed contracts with four local companies and nine companies outside the Chinese mainland to sell Expo tickets.

Tickets will be available at some outlets of China Mobile, China Telecom, China Post and the Bank of Communications.

The four ticket agents will ensure more than 3,200 outlets for tickets across the country. People can also book tickets via the agents' hotlines and Websites.

The China Travel Service Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan as well as the New Sintra Tours in Macau were also authorized to sell tickets.

Japanese can buy tickets from travel agency JTB Corp.

The China Travel Service Australia was appointed ticket seller in Australia.

The United States-based Ticketmaster and the Peregrine Travel Group, and Tianbao Travel Ltd in Canada will handle sales in North America.

Local residents will be able to buy tickets from July. Corporations and organizations will be able to get tickets from March 27.

Tickets will cost 160 yuan (US$23.4) with those for holidays and other peak periods will set you back 200 yuan.

World Expo 2010 organizer signs contracts with nine companies outside the Chinese mainland.

Zhong Yanqun, fulltime deputy director of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai Executive Committee, grants certification to four local companies.

Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, grants certification to nine companies outside the Chinese mainland.