National treasures in Shanghai Expo

Six paintings and a sculpture by artists including Cezanne, Manet, Millet, Rodin and Van Gogh

Of the 10 best masterpieces from Musee d'Orsay in Paris, famed as "the most beautiful museum in Europe," seven will be in China for six months.

The value of each is more than 100 million euros (US$139 million) and they have never left France for such a long period before.

The paintings will include Millet's "The Angelus," Manet's "The Balcony," Cezanne's "Woman with Coffee Pot" and Van Gogh's "The Dance Hall in Arles." The sculpture is Rodin's "The Age of Bronze."

The paintings and sculpture have been transported to the Expo site on separate flights.

Paintings by Giovanni Antonio Canal and other artists

Among them are two works by Giovanni Antonio Canal (1697-1768), better known as Canaletto.

Other masterpieces include those of 17th-century painter Bartolomeo Bimbi and 16th-century sculptor Benvenuto Cellini.

Modern artworks from Alberto Burri, Giuseppe Capogrossi, Lucio Fontana and Pietro Consagra are also on display.

ECC trophy

The trophy is in the form of a diamond tennis racket made from 6 kilograms of gold and 1,600 diamonds and is a priceless exhibit in the Diamond Museum Province of Antwerp.

To illustrate the more than 550 years of Antwerp's diamond heritage, 10 of the most prestigious antique diamond jewels from the Diamond Museum Province of Antwerp will be displayed in the Diamond Exhibition Corner in the Belgium Pavilion, together with the ECC trophy.

Belgium will exhibit more than 50 diamond jewelry pieces in its pavilion, including the world's 15th largest stone, with 603 carats separated into 26 diamonds. To safeguard the exhibits, the country will also have the world's most advanced security system in operation.