International Media Centre for APEC 2001 Meetings Opens

International Media Centre for APEC 2001 Meetings Opens

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After nearly two-year preparations, the International Media Center (IMC) for APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) 2001 meetings officially opened Sunday at the Shanghai Oriental Pearl Radio and TV Tower.

Mr. Wang Guangya, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister and also Secretary-General of the China Secretariat for APEC 2001, and Mr. Zhou Muyao, Vice Mayor of Shanghai city, attended and cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony.

In his speech at the ceremony, Zhu Bangzao, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Secretariat for APEC 2001, said that APEC is the largest regional forum of economic cooperation with high-level representation and great influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

"The Ninth APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting is a major event in China as we enter the new century, to which the Chinese government attaches great importance," he noted. The setting up of the IMC fully reflects the recognition by the China Secretariat of the important role of media, he added.


International Media Centre for APEC 2001 Meetings Opens (1)

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He also expressed the hope that friends from media will fully cooperate with each other in line with the APEC spirit of "interdependence and common interest", and share resources so as to create a sense of community for the best performance of work.

The just opened media center has been equipped with hundreds of net-connected PCs, fax machines, printers and telephones. The Shanghai Telecom also provides the Media Center with compound digital telecom equipment, emergency telecommunication vehicles as well as geostationary satellite antenna.

Meanwhile, the Center also supported by the most advanced digital audio-video equipment.

Media officials said, more than 3000 domestic and overseas reporters have registered to cover the 9th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, the 13th Ministerial Meeting, Informal Senior Officials' Meeting and other related meetings. The meetings will start on October 15 and last till October 21.