Italy 'working intensely' for Expo - Napolitano

Will land another big fish soon says Sala

Milan - Italy is "working intensely" towards making next year's Milan Expo 2015 a "roaring success," Italian President Giorgio Napolitano said Thursday as he welcomed some 50 Asian and European leaders to an Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit in the Lombardy capital.

Meanwhile Expo chief Giuseppe Sala said he was "sure" Expo would soon land another big and this time "unexpected" fish in the shape of a country whose clout and heft would help burnish the image of next year's premier event in Italy.

"With confidence and hope Italy put itself forward and is working intensely towards the universal EXPO of 2015, giving it the theme 'Feeding the Planet: Energy for Life'," Napolitano told leaders including Germany's Angela Merkel, Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Li Keqiang.

"That's the new, great appointment we're giving you here in Milan next May, ladies and gentlemen, you leaders and your delegations too", said the Italian President, who has frequently underscored the importance of Milan Expo 2015.

Napolitano was speaking shortly after Sala voiced confidence that "shortly, perhaps in a matter of weeks, we will be able to announce the participation of another great country, significant and not expected," keeping up the Expo's target of hosting at least 53 pavilions.

Construction is under way on almost all the 53 single-nation pavilions and work on the rest will start within the next two weeks, said Sala.

Speaking about 200 days before the beginning of Milan Expo in May, Sala said that at the very latest, all pavilions would be under construction by late October.

Sala said that it was largely to the credit of Italy's anti-corruption czar Raffaele Cantone, who was given powers during the summer to vet Expo business, that the work was moving ahead as planned.

The only real construction delay involves Cardo, a street which along with the Decumano, forms the Expo's main structure, said Sala.

One of the last single-nation pavilions to begin construction was France, which will be located next to the Italian pavilion.

In contrast, the fourth floor of Italy's pavilion will soon be completed, demonstrating the pace of construction there.

The work is proceeding at a fast clip, as "is apparent to anyone walking through this teeming work site," Sala told reporters. Meanwhile on Wednesday, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said he will visit Milan Expo 2105 with his family.

Speaking at New York City Hall after a meeting with his Milan counterpart, Giuliano Pisapia, de Blasio said he was "really looking forward to taking in this fascinating and unique event".

De Blasio also said the city would sign the Pact on Urban Nutrition, which Milan is working on in view of the food-themed world fair, Pisapia added.

"We have the same goals as de Blasio, such as the fight against inequality. We also have great expectations for results.

I am convinced that through greater unity between Milan and New York, great things can be done," Pisapia explained.

Milan Expo 2015 runs from May to October of next year and deals with themes of nutrition, food security, sustainable practices, and celebrating global culinary cultures.