Hong Kong film star Jackie Chan and NBA star Yao Ming were appointed promotion ambassadors for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo on Thursday.

Hong Kong film star Jackie Chan were appointed promotion ambassadors for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, April 30, 2009.[Photo: expo2010.cn]

"I will spare no efforts to pay close attention to the Expo and help promote it throughout the world," said Jackie Chan at a performance for residents relocated from the Expo site.

"Like every Chinese citizen, I am looking forward to the event," he said.

Hong Kong movie star Jackie Chan performs in Shanghai yesterday as he, pianist Lang Lang from Liaoning Province and NBA star Yao Ming from Shanghai were appointed ambassadors for the 2010 World Expo. At a celebration in Minhang District, Chan debuted the song "City," which marks the one-year countdown to the world fair. Although the other two ambassadors were absent, Chan said they told him they were enthusiastic about their new roles. "I will invite everyone I meet in the United States to come to my hometown in 2010," Yao said in a message sent to the celebration. The song was composed by Choi Joon Young of South Korea and written by Wang Pingjiu, a Beijing lyricist who penned "Welcome to Beijing" for the 2008 Olympics. [Photo: Shanghai Daily]

Yao Ming was quoted by the website as saying that as a native of Shanghai, he has always hoped that he could contribute to the event.

"I want to tell everyone: welcome to my hometown, Shanghai, and welcome to the 2010 Shanghai World Expo," he said.

Also appointed was Chinese pianist Lang Lang.

The Expo ambassadors already include Japanese table tennis star Ai Fukuhara, Japanese image designer Junko Koshino and British singer Sarah Brightman.

The Expo is expected to attracted 70 million visitors, 5 percent of them from abroad.

(Xinhua News Agency May 1, 2009)