On Sunday the press center for the upcoming Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation opened in the city.

 

According to summit organizers 1,252 correspondents have signed up to cover the event including 338 from Africa, over 700 from the Chinese mainland and 150 from the Beijing offices of various foreign media.

 

The press center is in East Chang'an Avenue in downtown Beijing not far from the main summit venues such as the Beijing Hotel and the Great Hall of the People.

 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said 21 staff at the center were ready to provide the best service possible to local journalists and correspondents from around the world.

 

The center has also hired around 30 bilingual volunteers who can speak at least one foreign language including English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic, organizers said.

 

The hotel above the press center has set aside 130 rooms for reporters attending the summit. More than 80 journalists from Africa have booked rooms, hotel staff said.

 

The summit runs from November 3 to 5.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2006)