SHANGHAI: Authorities here have vowed to do more to improve safety at construction sites, a senior official said yesterday.

Speaking at a press briefing, Xie Liming, director of the Shanghai administration of work safety, said authorities face a tough challenge on the approach to the 2010 World Expo, as the 170 billion yuan ($24.5 billion) being spent on new buildings is more than twice that of previous years.

The investment is part of the municipal government's efforts to stimulate domestic consumption in the face of the economic downturn, as well as the need to speed up investment for the Expo, he said.