China to set up Shenzhou-7 media center to overseas journalists
22/9/2008 16:18
Journalists from abroad who hope to cover the launch of China's third
manned spacecraft, Shenzhou-7, are welcome to a new purposed-built media center
in Beijing which will go into operation on Thursday.
It is the first time
China opens its usually mysterious space mission to foreign media. Some overseas
news organizations have been invited to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in
northwestern Gansu Province to cover the mission.
The media center is open to
all foreign journalists stationed in China and those working in China
temporarily. The former need to show the media pass issued by the Foreign
Ministry and the latter should have the J-2 visa issued by Chinese embassies in
foreign countries.
Journalists from Hong Kong and Macau special
administrative regions, who are stationed in the mainland, are required to show
the media pass issued by relevant mainland authorities. And those from Taiwan
are also required to show the media pass issued by the mainland
authorities.
The center at the Media Center hotel (No.11B, Fuxing Road,
Beijing, 100038) provides free TV and radio signals, free broadband Internet
access and free reference materials
Experts on space technology will be
available to comment on the operation of the spacecraft, sources with the media
center said.
The center has set up reception hotlines: 86-10-68521600 for
foreign journalists and 86-10-68521800 for journalists from Hong Kong, Macau and
Taiwan.
The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft is scheduled for launch sometime between
Sept. 25 and 30 after the vessel, its Long-March II-F carrier rocket and the
escape tower were vertically transferred to the launch pad on Saturday.
A
panel of six Chinese taikonauts (astronauts), including three selected crew and
three substitutes, have arrived at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu. One
of the taikonauts will conduct a spacewalk during the mission.
To fulfil its
promise to host an open and high-standard Olympic Games, the Chinese government
adopted a series of new regulations at the end of 2006 to facilitate foreign
media coverage of China.
The country's press authorities have said that China
will remain open to foreign media after the Olympic Games.
Xinhua
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