Record number of foreign media focus on NPC and CPPCC

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Source: CCTV.com | 03-03-2008 18:28

A record number of foreign journalists have applied to cover this year's annual sessions of NPC and CPPCC.

A record number of foreign journalists have applied to cover this year's annual sessions of NPC and CPPCC.

Associated Press is one of the world's "Big Four" news agencies, and will certainly not miss this opportunity to get close to China's law-makers, especially in the Olympic year.

The US media company has already assigned more staff to China, to cover the summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

TV Manager, Norman Bottorff says they will look at how the newly-elected migrant worker deputies will perform in their duty, and what changes they will bring to the government.

The leadership changes that will be announced at this year's session will also be a major focus.

Norman Bottorff, TV manager for China of Associated Press, said, "We'll do stories about changes in leadership. Will these new people bring their own style to the government, the party, will they have any influence on the policy? Things like that."

Over 800 foreign journalists from more than 200 media organizations have applied to cover this year's sessions of NPC and CPPCC. That's the biggest presence of foreign media compared with previous sessions.

Reporters are showing an interest in a wide range of topics.

Reuters correspondent Ben Blanchard said, "My interest will focus on the preparation of Olympics."

CNN correspondent Mario Saavedra said, "The changes of the government, the new laws that will be released hopefully. Everything that is new, all the new decisions of the government."

Journalists are praising the organizers' decision to make more panel discussions open to the media. And at the end of each one, interviews will be available.

China's ever-increasing global influence is the major reason why the annual political event is drawing so much international media attention. Reporters want to know what significant changes China will embrace in the future, and how those changes may affect the rest of the world. And this time, China is making it much easier for them.

Editor:Zhang Ning