Asia-Pacific

Beijing gives foreign press a new page

By Ai Yang (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-10-13 08:13

Beijing - On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu welcomed reporters into the brand new press conference hall and the International Press Center next door for the first time.

Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun and guest reporters place their hands on the ceremonious crystal ball to mark the opening of Beijing's new International Press Center. The center will provide new facilities for the foreign press corps. [Photo/China Daily]

Reporters arrived earlier than usual to the new conference room - nicknamed "Blue Hall" for its color theme - to secure the best seats and get familiar with the settings.

Ma, wearing a striped blue tie to match the occasion, opened the floor to waiting journalists and flashing cameras. "The color blue stands for openness, courage, sincerity and harmony. I believe we will have a wonderful time here," said the spokesman.

Chang Se-jeong, a correspondent of the Republic of Korea's (ROK) JoongAng Ilbo, told China Daily that he was very impressed by the Blue Hall. "It is wider compared with the old one, and there are more language channels - but I prefer to listen to the spokesperson's original words, because in that way it is most accurate," he said in Chinese.

Located on the third floor of the newly built South Building of the Foreign Ministry and opposite to the Blue Hall, the International Press Center (IPC) celebrated its 10th birthday also on Tuesday with ministry officials and the press.

Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun said the IPC has been dedicated to the foreign press in China over the decade since 2001. The number of registered overseas reporters has nearly doubled from ten years ago - to 740 journalists from 410 news agencies in 55 countries.

"Now the center aims to bring more information channels and conveniences to the foreign press," the minister said.

The various books and photo albums on China - provided free of charge by the IPC - were clearly in more demand than the food and cake served at the party, as half of the shelves were emptied within minutes.

Kamil Erdogdu, representative-correspondent of the Turkish Anadolu News Agency's Beijing office, for one, managed to carry 24 books in one take, securing them in his arms and chin.

"The IPC is very useful for us, and the trips it organizes from time to time are very good. I have been to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region with them once."

"The books help me understand more subjects of China, even on culture and music, and I think the foreign press here needs more communication too," he added.

It appears that a growing number of foreign correspondents, not limited to those from North Asia, can now communicate efficiently in Chinese - such as reporters from places like France and Australia - making English the less dominant language at the briefings than before.

"With the new IPC and Blue Hall, we will try our best to help the overseas press report China to the world impartially and objectively, and let a world audience understand China better," Ma said. "Although the journey is long, we have already made the steps."