Shanghai Asks Govt. to Approve a Disneyland Park

SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Shanghai has applied to China's central government to build a Disneyland theme park, a city spokesman said on Thursday, taking a necessary step before such a large-scale project can proceed. "Shanghai has already submitted an application to the central government to bring in a Disneyland theme park," the spokesman said. "Ultimately, attracting a park will depend on getting permission from the State Council," he said, referring to China's cabinet, which must grant approval on large local projects. A spokeswoman for Walt Disney Co. , which opened a Disneyland in Hong Kong last fall, reiterated the company's previous response on the bringing of a park to Shanghai. "The Walt Disney Co. has not reached an agreement with Shanghai to build a second Disney destination resort in China," she said, repeating a previous statement.