World looks to China as key congress nears

Hungry for information about the upcoming National Congress of Communist Party of China (CPC), reporters from around the world request more than food at a reception held in Beijing.

Accredited reporters for the 18th CPC National Congress grabbed every chance to seek answers to their questions at the reception held by the press center of the congress on Tuesday, two days away from the five-yearly event.

"The world is waiting for what's going to happen in Beijing," said Edulfo Pena with Colombia's El Tiempo newspaper. "Everything that's going to happen in China is very important for the world."

More than 1,700 overseas journalists had registered to cover the congress, said Zhai Huisheng, head of the press center.

The number of journalists, including those from Taiwan and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, far exceeds the number at the congress five years ago, said Zhai.

Throughout the reception, Qin Gang, an official with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was pressed by foreign reporters for comments on various issues ranging from accreditation services for overseas journalists to the presidential election in the United States. Qin patiently answered them one by one in English.

Asked about the huge international attention on the congress, Qin said: "The attention is as much on the congress itself as on the future of China and what impact China's development will have on the world."

On the upcoming congress, Xavier Fontdegloria with Agencia EFE said he wanted to focus on how China can develop its economy in the future and its relations with Europe.

"Let's see what the new leaders will do with the economy and let's see if China keeps this rhythm in the coming years," Fontdegloria said, adding that Agencia EFE had registered all its China reporters to cover the congress.

Pakistan journalist Masood Sttar Khan has covered many important political events in China, and in his opinion the upcoming congress is of significant importance.

"International media are paying a lot of attention, because there's going to be the transition of leadership in China," he said.

If he gets a chance to ask a question, the special correspondent with Associated Press of Pakistan said he would like to know what the new leadership has in mind about making China the top economy in the world.

At the reception, Luo Shugang, chief of the information team of the congress, expressed appreciation for the journalists' passion about the congress and said he looked forward to seeing their "masterpiece" coverage of the congress.

"I hope journalists can report the CPC and China in a full and truthful light," Luo said.