The press centre for Beijing's China-Africa Co-operation Forum opened Sunday, to cater to the 1,252 domestic and foreign journalists in the city for the summit.

The latest statistics from the centre show that among the registered reporters, 338 come from Africa, with 156 more from other foreign countries.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao at the opening of the China-Africa Co-operation Forum press centre Sunday, October 29, 2006. [newsphoto]

Leading Chinese media such as CCTV and the Xinhua News Agency have sent more than 700 reporters to cover the summit.

During a news briefing yesterday morning, Liu Jianchao, news official for the summit and also spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters that the centre was making a special effort to provide the best possible service, especially for journalists from Africa.

The centre is providing both analog and digital signals for film of the conference to be transferred to Africa.

African reporters are also enjoying free accommodation in the News Mansion where the centre is based.

About 30 volunteers trained in English, French and Spanish will help the reporters communicate with Chinese news staff.

According to Liu, China attaches great importance to the summit, the largest ever since the foundation of the People's Republic of China.

Additionally, Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf arrived in Beijing on Saturday, the first African leader to arrive for the summit.

Sirleaf visited the southern metropolis Shenzhen over the weekend.