The 2005 World Exposition in central Japan's Aichi Prefecture held a pre-opening ceremony Thursday before its formal start Friday with about 2,400 people including Japanese Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko, Crown Prince Naruhito and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi attending.

To mark the start of the first world fair in the 21st century, which runs for six months under the theme of "Nature's Wisdom," the emperor expressed hope that the expo will deepen visitors' understanding of the relationship between human beings and nature.

Koizumi said at the ceremony, held at the Expo Dome on the event's site near Nagoya, that people should achieve economic development while protecting the environment through the use of science and technology.

Wu Jianmin, president of the Paris-based Bureau of International Exhibitions, noted that the fact that two world expos will be held in Asia in the first 10 years of the 21st century marks a new trend in the expo movement of 154 years.

"The expo movement is proud to contribute to Asian dynamism," Wu said, adding the dynamism is a driving force for the world economy.

The ceremony also featured a performance by humanoid robots -- Toyota Motor Corp.'s trumpet-playing "Partner Robot", Honda Moto Co.'s "ASIMO" and Sony Corp.'s "QRIO". Two ASIMOs climbed stairs to a stage while QRIOs danced to the music played by the Toyota robot.

The pre-opening ceremony was followed by a concert featuring pianist Ingrid Fujiko Hemming as well as the popular Japanese singers Ayumi Hamasaki and Ryoko Moriyama.

More than 120 countries and international organizations are taking part in the expo, which is held at two sites in the central Japan prefecture. The six-month event will run through Sept. 25 and is expected to attract 15 million visitors.

Source: Xinhua