Foreigners in the east China coastal city of Ningbo can now enjoy English news briefings in an initiative launched by the local government on Wednesday. Ningbo is a major city in Zhejiang Province.

 

News released by the local government will be in both Chinese and English and published on an English version homepage of the government's website simultaneously, according to officials.

 

Local television and radio stations will also broadcast the English news briefings and the government spokesmen will respond to written questions from foreign media. .

 

Until now no other cities on the Chinese mainland have carried out such a news-release program.

 

"This is an important step towards improving the awareness of the work of the Ningbo government, attracting more overseas media to cover the great changes here and facilitating foreign residents' understanding of city," said Yu Danhua, spokesman for municipal government.

 

Yu said the program would improve Ningbo's image and expand overseas awareness. It would also allow the city to promote economic and social development.

 

According to incomplete statistics there are about 3,000 foreigners living in Ningbo with a further 280,000 visiting for business or just travel each year.

 

"Besides large numbers of foreign residents in Ningbo our city has attracted hundreds of overseas media to find news stories,” said Yu. "Therefore, we should provide sufficient and timely information in English."

 

For foreign companies in Ningbo, who pay special attention to government policies, they can consult the Foreign Affairs Office of the government in writing about such issues, Yu added.

 

A foreign student in the city welcomed the bilingual news briefings venture. Wiza, 25, an international student from Zambia at Ningbo University, said: "The new program will bring great convenience to my daily life as I can have easy access to fresh government news."

 

In recent years the local government has attached great importance to the promotion of Ningbo as an international city with the right image. ?.

 

In February 2006 the government released an English version of its work report becoming one of the few cities on the Chinese mainland such as Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen to have an English version of government work reports.

 

In fact the city’s official website is in five languages--English, German, French, Japanese and Korean.

 

(China Daily May 12, 2006)