The Shanghai Declaration said that "in tackling the challenges of urban development, innovation offers solutions and the concept of 'Cities of Harmony' embodies our dreams."

Volunteer Wang Qianhe, a junior at Shanghai's Donghua University, said it was difficult to say goodbye to the Expo. More than two million people from home and abroad volunteered for the Expo, of whom 80,000 worked at the Expo site.

However, to Wang's delight, a permanent building, the Expo 2010 Museum, will be built in Shanghai to preserve the Expo's glory. More than 200 Expo participants have already expressed willingness to donate exhibits to the 20,000-square-meter museum.

The next Expo will be held in Milan, Italy, in 2015.

BIE President Lafon said the spirit of the Shanghai Expo will live on long after its closing.

"The light of the Shanghai World Expo will continue to shine long into the future."