Ready for reporters

Nearly 300 volunteers to help make journalists feel at home

The media center for the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation is ready to provide services for more than 2,600 journalists, including over 660 from foreign media outlets.

The center will be open from Friday to Wednesday to facilitate media coverage of the summit, said Li Minggang, deputy director-general of the Information Department at the Foreign Ministry.

The summit will be held on Monday and Tuesday under the theme of “China and Afri- ca: Toward an Even Stronger Community with a Shared Future Through Win-Win Cooperation”.

Nearly 300 volunteers are involved in providing support services for media professionals, Li said.

The media center, located at the Beijing Jianguo International Convention Center, covers 8,300 square meters and provides facilities for interviews, research, broadcasts and internet access.

The working area is equipped with about 500 free workspaces for journalists, 156 of which have desktop computers with Chinese, English and French operating systems.

Two news conference halls will host news briefings related to the forum. “We are planning and arranging news conferences to highlight the cooperation between China and Africa,” Li said.

Prayer rooms are also available at the center.

The official said that the center also focuses on cultural interaction between China and Africa.

A cultural exhibition area features 54 photos showcasing African cultures and landscapes.

Journalists can also view 400 photos showing images of Beijing on an LCD screen, enjoy intangible cultural heritage items and view traditional handicrafts being handmade on site.

The exhibition links the cultures of China and Africa and helps promote understanding, Li said, adding that cultural exchanges are an important part of Sino-African cooperation.

The summit marks the second time in 12 years that China has hosted the forum, he added.

In another development, the seventh ministerial conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation will be held on Sunday to make preparations for the summit, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying announced on Wednesday.

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Commerce Minister Zhong Shan will co-chair the conference with their counterparts from South Africa, Hua said.

Ministers or representatives from 53 African countries responsible for diplomacy and economic cooperation will attend the conference, she added.

ZOU HONG / CHINA DAILY Volunteers test facilities on Wednesday at the media center for the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which will be held on Monday and Tuesday.