Journalists at home and abroad are invited to cover the upcoming 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which was announced on Monday.

Applications for covering the congress can be submitted between October 9 and November 2, according to an official statement obtained by Xinhua.

Journalists from the special administrative regions (SARs) of Hong Kong and Macao are asked to present their applications to the liaison offices of the central people's government in Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR, and correspondents from Taiwan must submit their applications to the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

Foreign correspondents are required to submit applications to Chinese embassies and consulates abroad, and the Special Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong SAR or in Macao SAR.

Foreign correspondents based on the Chinese mainland can present their applications to the Information Department of the Foreign Ministry.

Reporters from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and foreign countries should also present letters of representation from their media organizations or correspondent certifications when applying.

During the congress, a media center will be set up in Beijing to help organize press conferences and arrange interviews for reporters.

In a meeting on September 28, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee proposed convening the 18th CPC National Congress on November 8 in Beijing.

(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2012)