APEC SME Ministerial Meeting Catches Media AttentionThe 8th APEC SME Ministerial Meeting slated for August 29-30 has attracted wide attention from the press, and some 250 journalists, including more than 50 reporters from 22 overseas media organizations such as AFP, NHK and the Los Angeles Times, have flooded into the Shanghai International Media Center to register to cover the event.The ministerial meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is an annual event of the regional organization focusing on the development of their small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). "More domestic and overseas reporters are expected to come in the next two days," said an official at the media center. At the opening ceremony of the APEC SME Exhibition held on Monday morning, more than 100 journalists crowded the exhibition hall. Their camera flashes added a more festive atmosphere to the show of achievements made by the small and medium-sized enterprises of the APEC members. Two photographers with Japan's Asahi Shimbun said they have taken quite a few photos of the exhibition as the SME affairs are a focus of attention in business circles worldwide. Many reporters have their eyes on the APEC SME Business Forum that opened Monday afternoon, with the participation of some 600 SME entrepreneurs from APEC members. "The planned dialogue between ministers in charge of SME affairs and entrepreneurs at the forum will give us a good opportunity to get first-hand information about the policies of APEC members on fostering their SMEs," said a journalist with the China-based periodical Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. "The meeting between the ministers and business leaders will be the major part of my coverage this time." |
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