BEIJING - A media official for the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said Tuesday that 1,704 overseas journalists have registered to cover the political event.

The number of journalists, including those from Taiwan and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, far exceeds the number at the congress five years ago, said Zhai Huisheng, head of the press center for the congress.

"The 18th CPC National Congress is a big event in the political life of the Party as well as the Chinese people," Zhai said at a reception held for journalists. "It is also a congress that attracts huge attention from the international community."

"I hope journalists can report the CPC and China in a full and truthful light," Luo Shugang, chief of the information team of the congress, said at the reception.

The congress is scheduled to open on Thursday.