China Agency Signals Shanghai Disneyland Progress

ELAINE KURTENBACH

SHANGHAI (AP) — A long-awaited plan to build a Disney theme park in Shanghai appears to have moved forward, with officials confirming Monday that central government approvals are in place and an announcement is due soon.

However, Disney said there was no change to report.

Mayor Han Zheng told reporters Sunday that the city plans to make an announcement as early as this week to explain details of the plan — handy timing ahead of President Barack Obama's planned Nov. 15 visit to Shanghai.

An official in the public information department of the National Development and Reform Commission, China's main planning agency, confirmed Monday that the plan had been approved.

The official, who like many Chinese officials refused to give his name, referred inquiries to the local NDRC branch. That office did not immediately respond to requests for information submitted by phone and fax.

Two other officials, who also spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to media, confirmed that the NDRC had OK'd the plan. But they also would not give any details.