Representatives from about 200 media companies using the Chinese language globally will gather in central China this September to discuss challenges and opportunities they are facing.

The Third World Chinese Media Forum is scheduled to open in central China's city Wuhan on September 11, Guo Zhaojin, editor-in-chief of China News Service, who will host the forum, told a news conference Friday.

Guo said about 300 media elites of more than 200 media organizations using Chinese in 45 countries and representatives of the Chinese mainland media will exchange views on their development and cooperation.

The number of media expected to attend the three-day forum registered a 30 percent increase over the last forum held in 2003, according to Guo.

"Most of the attendees are presidents or chief editors of various media including newspapers, televisions, magazines, radio and Internet." Guo said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 13, 2005)