About 600 experts, pavilion staff and officials gathered today in Shaoxing, a historical city in Zhejiang Province, to share visions on economic transformation and urban-rural relations at the fifth theme forum of Expo 2010.

They talked about urbanization, urban-rural interaction, equalization of public services, innovative growth models, and sustainable economic development.

The two-day forum will discuss opportunities and challenges in urban and rural development and how to transform an agricultural society into an industrial one.

The participants will explore good urban and rural models for sustainable and coordinated development as well as solutions to problems arising from economic transformation, Shanghai Party Secretary Yu Zhengsheng said at the opening ceremony.

Other speakers included Zhao Hongzhu, Party chief of Zhejiang Province, Zhang Xiaoqiang, vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, and James W. Adams, World Bank vice president for East Asia and Pacific.

The World Expo 2010 has six theme forums. The last one will be held in Hangzhou next month with "Harmonious City and Livable Life" as its theme.