Governor of the US state of Maryland Robert Ehrlich announced in Shanghai Thursday that Maryland will conduct all-round cooperation with Shanghai for the preparation of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

A series of contracts worth 15 million dollars were signed between businesses from Maryland and China, covering the fields of medical health, education and training, construction design, biological medicine.

Ehrlich said Maryland enjoys many advantages in service trade, traffic, environmental protection, spaceflight, biology and information. He said he believed that Maryland's experience in urban construction will be helpful to Shanghai.

Ehrlich was heading a Maryland delegation to Shanghai for a two-day visit. During the trip, an international-level hospital jointly established by Maryland and Shanghai was inaugurated in Shanghai.

The Robert H. Smith School of Business of the University of Maryland also announced to expand its EMBA training program from Beijing to Shanghai. The Maryland-based construction design company RTKL, also opened its Shanghai office during the trip.

China has become the most attractive market of the world and Maryland's cooperation with Shanghai will surely help boost the competition of Maryland's companies, said Ehrlich.

Located at the eastern part of the United States, Maryland is noted for its service industry and high-tech industries. The state started business exchanges with China since early 1980s. In 1996, the state opened the Maryland Center China in Shanghai, helping companies from Maryland to explore business in China.

(Xinhua News Agency October 23, 2004)