SHANGHAI - EP Shanghai 2011 was unveiled at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center on Wednesday to display advanced technology and equipment on power-supplying, smart grid and energy-saving.

The three-day event, China's leading international electric power exhibition, was sponsored by China Electricity Council and Adsale Exhibition Service Ltd and had 600 exhibitors from 25 countries and regions in attendance, said Stanley Chu, chairman of Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd.

Quality exhibits from home and abroad range from power transmission to power generation, power dispatching systems, electric power automation, information system, control and testing equipment, said Chu.

Leading suppliers, he said, include the world's top 500 multinational corporations such as 3M, ABB, Siemens, Hyosung, Hyundai and Schneider Electric. Pavilions from Germany, Taiwan and the United States also promoted their new brands at the expo.

Sponsors have arranged 20 conferences and symposia for visitors to keep up-to-date with the industry development on smart grid, energy conservation and energy efficiency.

Qi Zhiqiang, an official from China Electricity Council, said the council will deliver a report on the index for power generation for 2010 and the first half of 2011 at China Smart Power System Seminar to be held at the exhibition.

Experts and leading suppliers will deliver speeches at other symposia to expound smart grid trends and the latest solutions, featuring both experiential sharing and networking between industrial users and suppliers, Qi said.

"China's power industry, which will undergo a long-term development in the next five years, will arouse the world attention. And more overseas businesses will come to China to seek opportunities for cooperation,'' he said.

Chu said this year's exhibition has increased its area up to 25,000 square meters, doubling the size of last year. The new exhibition hall, with a total area of 80,000 square meters, has provided a potential space for the exhibition to expand in the future.

"We believe the exhibition will reach a new stage in the next three to five years, with more space provided, more exhibitors participating and more overseas buyers coming,'' he said.