Chinese Journalists Welcome Lunar New Year With Foreign Counterparts 　　Chinese journalists celebrated the upcoming lunar new year with their foreign counterparts and foreign envoys at a grand party held in Beijing on January 27. 　　Chinese journalists made new achievements in introducing China's reform and opening up to the outside world in 1998, and also enhanced their friendship and mutual understanding with foreign counterparts, said Shao Huaze, president of the All-China Journalists Association and the People's Daily. 　　Shao also expressed thanks to the foreign correspondents for their hard work in presenting to the world a more thorough picture of China. 　　China met severe challenge of the Asian financial crisis and last summer's disastrous floods, while managing to guarantee a stable currency and sustained and rapid economic growth in 1998, which the whole world is applauding, stressed Shao. 　　The year 1999 will be the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and will see Macao's return to the motherland. Chinese journalists have a strong sense of responsibility and will endeavor to cover these historic events, as well as enhance their communication with overseas counterparts, added Shao. HomeNews 1999-01-28 Page4 Full Story in Chinese