国内英语新闻:Clinton celebrates opening of U.S. pavilion in Shanghai Expo

WASHINGTON, April 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday celebrated here the opening of U.S. Pavilion in 2010 Shanghai World Expo, which kicked off with a grand opening ceremony earlier in the day.

Clinton invited business leaders to attend the reception, which featured a live feed from the Pavilion in Shanghai. She said the Pavilion promotes a "people to people connection" between the United States and China, which is "the base of a long-lasting relationship."

Clinton thanked corporate partners for their participation, saying the pavilion is not only a partnership between China and the United States, but also a partnership between the U.S. government and the country's corporations.

U.S. law forbids using federal money to participate in World Expo. In order to have a presence in the Expo, Clinton committed her "personal prestige" and helped to raise funds for the Pavilion, according to Jose Villarreal, commissioner general of the U.S. exhibition.

In all, about 50 corporations became sponsors of the U.S. Pavilion. Deloitte's CEO of Federal Government Services Robin Lineberger said becoming a sponsor can help raise the company's profile.

Destination management company Pacific World's North America President Jane Schuldt said the company is providing logistics services for the exhibition and all other sponsors, and as its major clients in the American business world go to the Expo, it went too.

When the company "had an opportunity to stand up and support the USA Pavilion ... it seemed exactly the appropriate step to take and support to be given," she said.