The China Eastern Airlines, one of the country's biggest airlines, has become the first partner of the Shanghai World Expo, it was announced here Tuesday.

The partnership authorizes China Eastern to provide funding and passenger flight services for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, according to the deal between the Shanghai-based airline company and coordinators of the event.

The deal also marked the formal start of a marketing campaign covering sponsorships, licensing and commercial services at venues of the Shanghai World Expo, said Yang Xiong, Shanghai's vice mayor and vice director of the event's executive committee.

The marketing campaign and partnerships are expected to help cover part of the 30 billion yuan (3.75 billion U.S. dollars) cost of the World Expo.

Sources with the Shanghai World Expo said they will partner with 10 to 15 organizations in the fields of aviation, telecommunications, and hospitality.

The Shanghai World Expos, to be held between May 1 and October 31, 2010, is expected to draw 70 million visitors from home and abroad.

China Eastern Airlines has pledged to offer quality services and publicize the theme of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo -- better city, better life, said the company's president Li Fenghua at the contract signing ceremony Tuesday.

An airplane painted with the logo and theme of the Expo left Beijing's Capital International Airport for Shanghai at the end of the ceremony.

One of the three largest state-owned aviation groups, China Eastern is listed in Hong Kong, New York and Shanghai. It operates more than 400 international and domestic routes.

The 2010 Shanhai World Expo, also known as the "Economic Olympics", will be held from May 1 to Oct. 31, 2010 and is expected to draw 70 million visitors from home and abroad. Two hundred countries and international organizations will be invited to participate in the Expo.

Source: Xinhua