On January 20, 2010, the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Foreign Affairs Office and the Information Office of Beijing Municipal People’s Government jointly hosted the New Year reception for the foreign journalists based in China at Beijing International Hotel. More than 500 representatives attended the reception, including Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun, Director Zhao Huimin of the Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing Municipal People’s Government, Director Wang Hui of the Information Office of Beijing Municipal People’s Government, spokespersons and officials of the ministries and commissions of the State Council, officials from the information offices of some provinces, officials from related departments of the foreign ministry, foreign journalists based in China, the information officials of foreign embassies in China and Chinese journalists from key domestic news agencies. Ma Zhaoxu, Director General of the Information Department hosted the reception.

Ma said that 2009 is an important year in the history of China and an extraordinary year in the course of peaceful development of China. The foreign news agencies and journalists based in China are the witnesses of and participants in the development of China and have made positive efforts to have in-depth and comprehensive coverage of China, which increased the understanding, cooperation and friendship between China and the rest of the world.

Ma said that China will hold the World Expo in Shanghai and the Asian Games in Guangzhou in 2010. The Chinese government always welcomes more and more foreign journalists to cover China. The related agencies and local governments will earnestly execute the Regulations on Reporting Activities in China by Resident Foreign News Agencies and Foreign Journalists and further improve information disclosure so as to provide high-quality information and services for the journalist friends and help them to have a comprehensive, timely, impersonal and accurate coverage of China and the international events taking place in China.

Director Zhao Huimin said that Beijing aims to become a modern international metropolis, strengthen exchange and cooperation with countries in the world and propel the internationalization of the capital in 2010. “I hope the journalist friends retain your interest in Beijing as always. I also hope that Beijing can become your second home.”

Director Wang Hui expressed the hope to increase foreign journalists’ understanding and appreciation of Beijing’s efforts to build “people’s Beijing, high-tech Beijing and green Beijing” and strengthen exchange and cooperation with foreign journalists.