BEIJING, Nov. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- The seventh Shanghai World Expo International Forum was kicked off Thursday, the last one of its kind before the Expo next year.

    Six forums have been held annually from 2003 to 2009 co-hosted by the Municipal Government of Shanghai and the Bureau of International Expositions.

    The following are the previous six World Expo International Forums and their themes:

    The first World Expo International Forum was held in Shanghai in October 2003 with the theme of "Expo Facing the Future." The forum also witnessed the establishment of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination.

    The second international forum opened in Paris, France, on June 25, 2004, on the theme of "Culture Diversity and Culture Integration." Paris was chosen as the venue for its emblem of metropolis with culture integration.

    The third Shanghai World Expo International Forum was held at Aichi Expo park in Japan, Sept. 23, 2005, two days before the closing ceremony of the Expo Aichi. With the theme of "World Expo and Sustainable Development," the forum served as a bridge to connect the Aichi Expo theme of "Nature's Wisdom" to the Shanghai Expo.

    On Sept. 27, 2006, the fourth World Expo International Forum convened in Shanghai on the theme "Better City, Better Life: Making It Happen, Making It Last."

    The fifth international forum was held in Shanghai on the theme of "Urban Best Practices" on Sept. 19, 2007. More than 200 guests gathered in the forum focused on three aspects of the theme: Livable Cities and Sustainable Urbanization, Protection and Utilization of Historical Heritages, and Technological Innovation in Built Environment.

    The sixth Shanghai World Expo International Forum opened at the University of Zaragoza in Spain, Sept. 8, 2008. The forum was themed "From Zaragoza to Shanghai, a world of harmony." Experts in various fields from home and abroad joined the forum.

Special Report:  Expo 2010 Shanghai China