Journalists arrive in Beijing for 70th anniversary celebrations

More than 5,000 journalists, including 1,100 from overseas have arrived in Beijing to cover the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Hu Xiaohan, the executive vice-president of the All-China Journalists Association, said during the banquet for journalists on Saturday evening that many of them have traveled across the globe to cover the celebration.

Xu Lin, head of the State Council Information Office, said the anniversary is a day of major celebration and significance, and it has attracted the eyes of people around the world.

The event will showcase the monumental changes and accomplishments China has achieved over the last seven decades, especially since the 18th Communist Party of China National Congress in 2012, he said.

Many reporters from home and aboard have produced excellent works in the last few weeks, and "we hope that covering the anniversary will become a valuable experience in your journalism career".

With the PRC's 70th birthday right around the corner, Xu said he hopes reporters from around the world, through their own eyes, pens and cameras, can accurately and truthfully portray China's changes, its accomplishments and its people's characters.

"The celebration events are varied and exciting, and we hope they can give you pleasant surprises and memories," he said.