NINGBO, Zhejiang - The first theme forum of the Shanghai World Expo opened in the Chinese coastal city of Ningbo on Saturday, with renowned experts and entrepreneurs discussing information and communication technologies (ICT) and urban development.

The two-day forum was co-organized by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Executive Committee of Expo 2010 Shanghai China, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Ningbo Municipal Government.

Participants to the forum include Internet pioneer Robert E.Kahn, CEO of Microsoft Online Lu Qi and Chinese Minister of Industry and Information Technology Li Yizhong. They would join discussions on topics ranging from cloud computing to Internet of Things.

A total of 189 countries would present their best at the six-month Shanghai World Expo. Carrying the theme of "Better City, Better Life", the Expo is expected to attract 70 million visitors from China and abroad.