On January 25, 2008, the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality jointly hosted a New Year reception at the National Center for the Performing Arts, which was attended by the leaders from related agencies including Wu Hongbo, Assistant Foreign Minister, Yang Liuyin, Director of Beijing Foreign Affairs Office, Deng Yijiang, Deputy President of the National Center for the Performing Arts, spokespersons of the related ministries and commissions of the State Council, the heads of the departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and over 300 foreign journalists and the media officers of the foreign embassies based in China. Liu Jianchao, Director General of the Information Department, hosted the reception.

Liu said that foreign journalists based in China not only paid close attention to the developments and changes in every aspects of China in the past year 2007, but also introduced such developments, changes and achievements to the outside world and made meaningful efforts to help the people in other countries know and understand China.

In 2007, the Chinese government fulfilled the commitments made for the Olympic Games, fully implemented the Regulations on Reporting Activities in China by Foreign Journalists during the Beijing Olympic Games and the Preparatory Period, strengthened the mechanisms facilitating the reporting activities by foreign journalists in China, improved the media services, and timely resolved the problems faced by many foreign journalists in their reporting activities. The implementation of the Regulations created a more facilitating environment for foreign journalists and was therefore warmly welcomed. Last year alone, there were another 41 foreign media agencies sending 111 journalists based in China. There were altogether 700 foreign journalists of 374 media agencies from 54 countries in China. The Chinese government will continue to push for the better implementation of the Regulations, according to Liu.

Liu added that 2008 is a very important year for the development of every aspect of China. China will witness a series of significant moments such as the 30th anniversary of reform and opening up, the Beijing Olympic Games, and Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). The world will focus more attention on Beijing and on China. It is hoped that foreign media agencies could keep contributing to the understanding and friendship between China and other countries.

Before the reception, the journalists visited the Opera House and the Drama Hall in the National Center for the Performing Arts with great interest. They got to know the Center's uniqueness in architecture, design, stage, sound effect and other aspects. They also exchanged views with the design, engineering, management and performance staffs of the Center.