MONACO.- China’s Shanghai has won the bid to host the World Expo 2010 with 54 votes at the fourthround of voting,Chinese delegates said.Shanghai was followed by Yeoso of South Korea with 34votes. Of the 89 member countries of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE), 88 cast theirvotes at the fourth round of voting with one abstention. More than 100 Chinese tourists were celebrating the successful bid outside the BIE conferenceroom, a Xinhua correspondent reported. Get ready for guests, and plenty of them as 70 million people are expected to arrive in the cityin 2010 to visit the World Expo - an event Shanghai won the right to host during a close vote inMonaco last night.All the hard work paid off for China yesterday when 54 of the Bureau of International Exposition’s89 members voted to give Shanghai the right to host the World Expo in 2010 in the fourth round ofpolling. Anxiety that gripped the nation so eager to win the bid turned into rapture when BIE SecretaryGeneral V.G. Loscertales announced the winner. The news set off street celebrations in Shanghai along the Nanjing Road, at Xintiandi and on thecampus of Fudan University last night, complete with singers, dancers and fireworks. The victory was hard-won for China as the other four candidates - Russia, South Korea, Poland andMexico - all put together strong bids to win votes from the 89 member states of the BIE. SouthKorea made it a close contest, picking up 34 ballots in the final round of voting. Shanghai Mayor Chen Liangyu hailed his city’s successful bid to host the World Expo 2010. "Todayis a memorable day. It is the day when the BIE chooses Shanghai, chooses China, and chooses adeveloping country for the first time in its history. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you allfor your trust and goodwill," Chen told reporters after the vote. "We will do honor to this rare opportunity by re-doubling our preparation so as to present allparticipating countries with the best facilities and most satisfactory services. We look forwardto the broadest participation for the Shanghai event, bringing together the best of the world’scolorful cultures and maximizing opportunities for understanding, friend-ship and cooperation,"the mayor said. The Chinese delegation gave a fetching 30-minute presentation to the BIE delegates just prior tothe start of voting. The pitch combined a short film made by famous Chinese film director Zhang Yimou showing thehistorical features of China and modern images of Shanghai with the well- known melody of "JasmineFlower." Three Chinese officials took the podium to voice the government’s strong support for Shanghai’sbid. "Shanghai embodies China’s desire to integrate with the international community. With its robusteconomy, sound infra-structure, clean environment, and social stability, Shanghai stands out as anideal site for the World Expo," said Vice Premier Li Lanqing in English. Mayor Chen told the delegates that US$100 million has been earmarked to ensure the widest possibleparticipation in the Expo. "We will do honor to this rare opportunity by re-doubling our preparation so as to present allparticipating countries with the best facilities and most satisfactory services. We look forwardto the broadest participation for the Shanghai event, bringing together the best of the world’scolorful cultures and maximizing opportunities for understanding, friend-ship and cooperation,"the mayor said. The Chinese delegation gave a fetching 30-minute presentation to the BIE delegates just prior tothe start of voting. The pitch combined a short film made by famous Chinese film director Zhang Yimou showing thehistorical features of China and modern images of Shanghai with the well- known melody of "JasmineFlower." Three Chinese officials took the podium to voice the government’s strong support for Shanghai’sbid. "Shanghai embodies China’s desire to integrate with the international community. With its robusteconomy, sound infra-structure, clean environment, and social stability, Shanghai stands out as anideal site for the World Expo," said Vice Premier Li Lanqing in English. Mayor Chen told the delegates that US$100 million has been earmarked to ensure the widest possibleparticipation in the Expo. "Our plan for the use of the site after the World Expo may be a brand-new attempt in the historyof the World Expo. We will encourage countries to build their own pavilions and provide favorableterms to facilitate their permanent ownership," he said. "After the Expo, these pavilions will beturned into country centers for commercial, cultural, art and scientific exchanges." "As a lasting legacy, the Expo Park will endure and the exchange will continue. The spirit of theWorld Expo will live on," Chen promised. "China will not let you down," said State Councilor Wu Yi in her short concluding speech."Shanghai is ready to give you a pleasant surprise!" she promised.