BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Foreign journalists
should complain formally if they have any problems in doing their jobs during
the Beijing Olympic Games, senior Chinese leader Li Changchun said here on
Thursday.
Senior leader Li Changchun(center)
inspects the 2008 Beijing International Media Center (BIMC) on
Thursday, July 10, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
While visiting the Beijing International Media Center
(BIMC), which opened on Tuesday to serve more than 5,000 non-accredited
reporters during the Games, he said officials would effectively implement
regulations that ensured foreign journalists would be allowed the freedom to
report.
"If you are dissatisfied, you can file your complaint
directly to Liu Qi, president of Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of
XXIX Olympiad," he told reporters. Liu accompanied Li around the media center,
one of the three major news centers of the Beijing Games.
Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the
Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, welcomed all
foreign journalists to the country for the Olympics, saying, "I hope you could
truly and fully cover the event and tell the world (about) a true China."
He said the center could provide broadcast
transmissions around-the-clock. He promised to ensure the security of
transmissions, a major concern of overseas journalists, and asked the staff to
strengthen security measures.
Answering a question from an Aljazeera reporter, he
said China was fully capable of ensuring the security of the Games from Aug. 8
to 24.
Juan Rosso of Colombia's Caracol Radio was satisfied
with the service at the center. He told Li that the technology here was perfect,
convenient and advanced.
"Colombian people need to know more about China as
more Colombian entrepreneurs have come to China to invest, or look for options,"
he said.
Rosso said during the Games their reporting would
also focus on China's economy, culture, history, tourism, entertainment and
lifestyle.
Li's visit to the media center was to examine the
work there so as to ensure that domestic and foreign reporters enjoyed quality
service during the Games.
Andrew Kirillov, Beijing bureau chief of the Russian
Itar-Tass News Agency, said the visit to the media center by a senior Chinese
leader demonstrated the central government's strong support of the Games.
He said the center was very convenient except parking
problems.
"Our work will be ultimately judged by all
reporters," Li said.
Located 2 kilometers away
from the Main Press Center, the BIMC is the home for journalists who do not have
Olympic media accreditation.
Two men pass by the reception
for foreign journalists at Beijing International Media Center
(BIMC) on Tuesday, July 8, 2008. Located 2 kilometers away from the
Main Press Center, the BIMC is the home for journalists who do not have
Olympic media accreditation. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
The BIMC will host two or three press conferences a
day about environment protection, security, traffic, among others.
The center is a newly-decorated hotel that covers an
area of 60,000 square meters. It has three working areas, two press conference
halls, an exhibition area and a catering area. Above the fourth floor are guest
rooms that are only open to journalists during the Games.
The opening of the BIMC, together with the Main Press
Center (MPC) and International Broadcasting Center (IBC) of the Olympic Games on
Tuesday, kicked off the media service for the event. More than 20,000 reporters
will cover the Games.
On Jan. 1, 2007, regulations on foreign journalists'
reporting activities in China during the Beijing Olympics took effect. Under the
new rule, foreign journalists no longer have to be accompanied or assisted by a
Chinese official when they report in the country.
They also no longer need to apply to provincial
foreign affairs offices for permission to report in all of the country's
provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.
BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Senior leader Li
Changchun pledged Thursday that China will provide good media services for
journalists covering the Olympics, saying that they can lodge complaints
directly to Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008
Olympic Games (BOCOG), if they feel dissatisfied.
Li made the remarks during an inspection tour at the
2008 Beijing International Media Center (BIMC), which opened on Tuesday to serve
more than 5,000 non-accredited reporters during the Games. Full story
