United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao attended the Summit Forum on the sidelines of the Shanghai World Expo, which is set to be closed later here Sunday. The Shanghai Expo is the first time the event is held in a developing country, drawing 246 participated countries and international organizations, as well as more than 70 million visitors. London hosted the first Expo in the Crystal Palace of Hyde Park in 1851. Wen Jiabao said the Expo 2010 Shanghai China had been a splendid event and added a glorious chapter to the Expo history. Calling the event 'eye-opening' and 'unforgettable', the Premier expressed hearthfelt gratitude on behalf of the Chinese government and pay high tribute to all people who had participated in, supported and contributed to the first Expo held by a developing country. Since the Expo opened on May 1, there have been more than 70 million visits, a record high in the Expo history. For the first time, a virtual Expo was launched, opening a new window for more people to be part of the Expo, he said. 'Undeterred by the searing heat or soaking rain, they(visitors) waited patiently in long lines to witness this much anticipated event... Through such extensive participation, Expo 2010 Shanghai has truly brought together people around the globe,' he said. Within a land area of six square kilometers, the Expo Site has become a global village where people could not only see on display rare cultural treasures of the world, for example, the bronze chariot and horse sculpture from China's Warring States period, the statue of Athena from Greece and the masterpiece of French impressionist painters, but also got a taste of the quintessence of the world's diverse cultures through more than 20,000 cultural events, according to Wen. The Summit Forum, co-hosted by the Shanghai World Expo organizing committee, the United Nations, and the International Expositions Bureau (BIE), focuses on 'Urban Innovation and Sustainable Development'. The forum is the highest-level event in the series of Expo forums and the finale of the six-month Expo, calls for joint efforts in tackling common issues arising from and challenging urban development worldwide. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said at the Forum that the Chinese government, the City of Shanghai and the International Bureau of Expositions deserve the highest praise as the Shanghai World Expo brought nations together and celebrated global diversity. 'Since May of this year, all around the world, people have been talking about a remarkable, even historic event,' Ban said. Ban said the Expo offers hope for tackling the growing challenges of urbanization. 'I hope that China will be an urban pioneer,' he said, adding that he looks forward to working more closely with China across the sustainable development agenda. He urged the world to work together towards wiser use of the planet's finite natural resources, introduce sustainable practices at all stages of production, consumption and trade, from policy-making to the daily operations of small and large business, do more to develop renewable sources of energy, and make them affordable to all people, and work together to combat climate change, encouraging our cities and towns to vigorously implement mitigation and adaptation measures. 'By sharing our knowledge, our cultures, and our desire for a better world, we are all enriched and we can all succeed,' he said. Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales, Secretary-General of the International Expositions Bureau (BIE) said at the forum that the Expo has inspired a mindset of cooperation, solidarity and openness which are essential to tackle the major challenges facing humanity. 'Shanghai 2010 has truly materialized the vision of the World Expos of the 21st Century,' he said. 'Shanghai has successfully demonstrated that Expo can be a core venue where citizens and global institutions come together to actively and constructively contribute to the solution of humanity's challenges through peace, creativity and solidarity,' he added. The forum invites state leaders, officials, scientists and experts, and entrepreneurs across the world to seek innovative ways for sustainable urban development. It is also aimed at exploring and solving various practical issues faced in urban development through the initiation of extensive and intensive exchanges between developing and developed countries, and leaving behind a positive spiritual legacy on behalf of the future of the world cities and the development of humankind itself. Six themed sessions and a youth panel will be held during the one-day event to address topics including digital cities, knowledge innovation, eco-cities, economic transition, community management and youth creativity. The Shanghai Declaration, setting forth prior tasks in building cities that establish harmony between diverse people, between development and environment, between cultural legacies and future innovations, will be delivered during the closing plenary of the forum. The document, which recognizes achievements of the Shanghai Expo, the first held in a developing country in the event's 159-year history, also expresses shared aspirations of people around the world for better live in better cities. 