More than 1,200 journalists from domestic and overseas media have gathered in Nanning to cover the upcoming China-ASEAN high-profile activities on Monday and Tuesday, with diversified focus on different fields of cooperation.

 

According to the Expo secretariat, nearly 1,000 journalists from China domestic media, 50 journalists from the Hong Kong and Macao media and 211 foreign journalists have made the registration.

 

According to the agenda, the China-ASEAN commemorative summit is slated for Monday while the third China-ASEAN Expo and the third China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit are to open on Tuesday.

 

HJ Shamad Hi Ali, Head of Current Affairs (TV) of Radio Television Brunei is in Nanning for the second time to cover the China-ASEAN Expo. He said the broadcasting of the opening ceremony of last exposition has won a high viewing rate from his audience back home.

 

Apart from covering trade cooperation between China and Brunei, he said this year he will compose some "cultural program highlighting the life of ordinary Nanning citizens."

 

At the news center of the China-ASEAN Expo, Thapanee Intsrichai, anchor of Thailand ITV is busying testing the equipment to broadcast Monday's summit. She said ITV will keep track of the activities of the Thai Prime Minister in Nanning.

 

In the eyes of domestic journalists, the economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN are always "interesting topics."

 

"We will try to dig out business opportunities for companies who can't be here to experience the events," said Zhou Aihua, a CCTV (China Central Television) reporter.

 

According to the Expo secretariat, over 6,000 business projects will be promoted during the exposition period, with 300 projects aiming at investing in ASEAN countries. Crafts, agricultural products, food, timber and woodwork will be highlighted at the Expo.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2006)