SHANGHAI, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The following are some facts and figures about the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit slated for Thursday in Shanghai, the birthplace of the SCO.

    -- Crowds of reporters flood in

    Reporters have flocked to Shanghai ahead of the summit. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said 796 reporters representing 128 media organizations from 27 countries and regions had registered by Monday to cover the event.

    They will be working at a 2,700-square-meter press center, which is about five minutes' walk away from the Shanghai International Convention Center where the summit will be held.

    -- 100,000 street lamps light up Shanghai

    To showcase the city's beautiful nightscape, the Shanghai municipal government has sent extra electricians on standby to ensure that the 100,000 street lamps in the city proper will light up Shanghai's nights, particularly in its famous Bund area.

    -- Posters in three languages welcome guests

    Posters and flags in three languages festoon Shanghai's major streets this week, extending a special welcome to the guests attending the SCO summit.

    "Foster Shanghai Spirit and Deepen Practical Cooperation for Peace and Development", they read in Chinese, Russian and English.

    -- 60,000 security staff keep Shanghai safe

    The municipal public security bureau has sent 60,000 security staff, including policemen and armed police officers and soldiers, to ensure a safe environment for the summit.

    -- 2-bln-U.S. dollar deals at sight

    Some 2 billion U.S. dollars worth of business contracts and loan agreements are expected to be inked on the sidelines of the summit Thursday, Vice Minister of Commerce Yu Guangzhou said Tuesday.

    The deals will include a highway project connecting Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, two high-voltage electricity lines in Tajikistan, a cement plant in Kyrgyzstan with a daily production of 2,500 tons, and a hydropower station in Kazakhstan. Enditem