General Electric makes large donation to US Shanghai Expo efforts

General Electric has given US efforts to raise the 60 million dollars needed to ensure a national pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo a massive boost, organisers said Monday. Fundraising problems have meant the United States is one of only three countries - along with Andorra and Colombia - that have diplomatic relations with China but have not confirmed participation at next year's World's Fair.
GE and USA Pavilion committee officials declined to say how much the company would contribute, but USA Pavilion spokeswoman Page Wang said it was the largest donation yet. GE "joins as a founding partner for the USA national pavilion during the 2010 Shanghai Expo, which injects a cardiac stimulant towards the USA pavilions' fundraising," Wang said. Previously the largest known donations were from computer maker Dell Inc and manufacturing group 3M Co, which offered one million dollars and 250,000 dollars respectively.