According to the summit organizers, 1,252 correspondents have signed up to cover the forum, including 338 from Africa, over 700 from Chinese mainland, and 150 from Beijing offices of various foreign media.

The press center is set up on the East Chang'an Avenue in downtown Beijing, not far from the main summit venues, such as the Beijing Hotel and the Great Hall of the People.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said all the 21staff at the center are ready to provide the best service to correspondents from the world.

The center also hired about 30 bilingual volunteers who can speak at least one foreign language, including English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic, organizers said.

The hotel above the press center has set aside 130 rooms available for reporters of the summit. More than 80 reporters from Africa have booked the rooms, the hotel staff said.

The Beijing summit will be held from Nov. 3 to 5.