The China Eastern Airlines, one of the country's biggest airlines, has become the first partner of the Shanghai World Expo, it was announced in Beijing on 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 (US$3.75 billion) 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.

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2006)