Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi unveiled the official emblem for 2010 Shanghai World Expo Monday in Shanghai. The major body of the emblem is the Chinese character "shi," which means world in English, connected with the figure "2010" in green.

The character "shi" resembles three abstract persons standing arm-in-arm. The three figures are called "ni," "wo" and "ta" ("you," "me" and "him or her") and represent all humankind, said 34-year-old designer Shao Honggeng.

"I hope to express with typical Chinese handwriting the Expo's ideology of understanding, communication, happy gathering and cooperation and tell the world the Shanghai World Expo will be a peaceful event for the humankind," Shao said.

The design was chosen from 9,046 works by artists from China and 15 other countries.

To protect the intellectual property rights of the emblem, the State Council passed World Expo Emblem Protection Codes on Oct. 20. It's slated to take effect form Dec. 1 to protect the Expo's name, emblem, mascot and theme song.

Wu also called for greater efforts be made in preparation for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo at the second meeting of the organization committee of the Expo held on the same day.

Preparations have begun and are proceeding well "thanks to the strategic decisions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council," said Wu, who is also chief of the organizing committee.

She said the Expo areas should be built to last. "All the facilities, infrastructure for the Expo should be constructed in a way that they can still serve the people after the Expo so as to make full use of various resources," she said.

Chen Liangyu, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, also addressed the meeting and vowed to make the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai a successful, attractive and memorable international events in history.

The meeting also passed World Expo 2010 Action Guideline, World Expo 2010 Registration Report, World Expo 2010 Layout Program and chosen candidates for World Expo Chinese government general representative.

The World Expo, held every five years, will be held in Shanghai from May 1 to Oct. 31 in 2010 with a theme of "better city, better life."