As many as 2,010 overseas Chinese attended the launching ceremony of the "Overseas Chinese Return Home to See Expo" activities on May 10, 2010. They gathered at the China Pavilion in the morning with happy and proud feelings that China has changed much, and so many countries are participating in the Expo. There will be 200,000 commemorative tickets available for overseas Chinese starting May 10.

The "Overseas Chinese Return Home to See Expo" activities are organized by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (OCAO) under the State Council and its branch in Shanghai, including the "Overseas Chinese Businesspeople Return Home to See Expo and Seek Business Opportunities," "Exhibition of Global Chinese Paintings," "Interviewing Week for Overseas Chinese Media," "Global Chinese Artists Concert," and a summer camp for overseas Chinese youth. These activities, which center on the theme of "enjoying days in the Shanghai Expo and sharing opportunities," will be carried out throughout the duration of the Expo.

Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng delivered a speech at the ceremony, calling the Expo "a grand reunion of all Chinese people." The OCAO Director Li Haifeng invited all overseas Chinese to "come back home and develop business in our motherland."

The first 2,010 overseas Chinese include leaders of overseas Chinese associations, businesspeople, technicians, artists and cultural professionals, and young people. "We are glad that we can see such a magnificent Expo in our motherland. We feel very proud to be Chinese," said 82-year-old Wang Chengdong and his wife Kong Huihua.

There is an electronic version of the great painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival," super hybrid rice, a negative-emissions concept car "Yezi" (leaf), and other interesting high-tech things at the China Pavilion, which greatly aroused the interest of overseas youth attending the summer camp.

Hong Zhipeng, from the Philippines, could not help praising, "So many high-tech things. Fantastic!"

Xu Rongmao, chairman of the Shimao Group and deputy director of the Association of Overseas Chinese-funded Enterprises, said that he wants to see exhibitions related to the low-carbon and eco-friendly economy.