China holds lunar new year reception for foreign journalists, press officials

China on Friday held a lunar new year reception for foreign reporters stationed in Beijing and press officials of foreign countries' embassies in Beijing.

More than 180 foreign guests attended the reception.

Liu Jianchao, head of the Information Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and also spokesman of the Ministry, said at the reception that his department will continue to assist foreign journalists with their work in China and at the same time he hopes foreign journalists could give more cooperation and patience to his department.

Statistics from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, host of the reception, showed that up to the end of 2006, the number of foreign journalists in Beijing reached 619, representing 321 news organizations of 49 countries stationed in Beijing.

In the past year, the Chinese Foreign Ministry assisted foreign journalists in having interviews with state leaders of China for 12 times, held 82 regular press conferences to answer some 4,200 questions raised by journalists, held 27 news briefings on the background information of related issues, and organized 20 interview tours in different places in China for foreign journalists.

The Chinese lunar new year, known as "Spring Festival", is the most important and traditional holiday for Chinese families. The festival falls on Feb. 18 this year.

Source: Xinhua