中国网站品牌栏目（频道）
On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu welcomed reporters into the brand new press conference hall and the International Press Center next door for the first time.
Reporters arrived earlier than usual to the new conference room - nicknamed "Blue Hall" for its color theme - to secure the best seats and get familiar with the settings.
Ma, wearing a striped blue tie for the occasion, opened the floor to waiting journalists and flashing cameras. "The color blue stands for openness, courage, sincerity and harmony. I believe we will have a wonderful time here," said the spokesman.
Chang Se-jeong, a correspondent for the Republic of Korea's (ROK) JoongAng Ilbo, told China Daily that he was very impressed by the Blue Hall. "It is wider compared with the old one, and there are more language channels - but I prefer to listen to the spokesperson's original words, because in that way it is most accurate," he said in Chinese.
Located on the third floor of the newly built South Building of the Foreign Ministry and opposite to the Blue Hall, the International Press Center (IPC) celebrated its 10th birthday, also on Tuesday, with ministry officials and the press.
Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun said the IPC has been dedicated to the foreign press in China since 2001. The number of registered overseas reporters has nearly doubled from 10 years ago - to 740 journalists from 410 news agencies in 55 countries.
"Now the center aims to bring more information channels and conveniences to the foreign press," the minister said.
The various books and photo albums on China - provided free of charge by the IPC - were clearly in more demand than the food and cake served at the party, as half the shelves were emptied within minutes.
Kamil Erdogdu, representative-correspondent of the Turkish Anadolu News Agency's Beijing office, for one, managed to carry 24 books in one take, securing them in his arms and chin.
"The IPC is very useful for us, and the trips it organizes from time to time are very good. I have been to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region with them once."
"The books help me understand more subjects of China, even on culture and music, and I think the foreign press here needs more communication too," he added.
It appears that a growing number of foreign correspondents, not limited to those from North Asia, can now communicate efficiently in Chinese - such as reporters from places like France and Australia - making English the less dominant language at the briefings than before.
"With the new IPC and Blue Hall, we will try our best to help the overseas press report China to the world impartially and objectively, and let a world audience understand China better," Ma said. "Although the journey is long, we have already made the steps."
Questions:
1. What is the nickname of the new press conference hall in Beijing?
2. Where is the International Press Center (IPC)?
3. How many overseas reporters are registered?
Answers:
1. "Blue Hall" for its color theme, but also: "The color blue stands for openness, courage, sincerity and harmony," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu.
2. It’s located on the third floor of the newly built South Building of the Foreign Ministry and opposite to the Blue Hall.
3. The number of registered overseas reporters has nearly doubled from 10 years ago - to 740 journalists from 410 news agencies in 55 countries.
（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Nelly Min is an editor at China Daily with more than 10 years of experience as a newspaper editor and photographer. She has worked at major newspapers in the U.S., including the Los Angeles Times and the Detroit Free Press. She is fluent in Korean and has a 2-year-old son.
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