September 26, 2008

Respected Minister Wang Chen,

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

Good evening!

Autumn is the best season for Beijing, where the heady fragrance of laurel blossoms fills the fresh air. This evening, I am glad to join you for the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Beijing Review. First, on behalf of the General Administration of Press and Publications, and Minister of GAPP Liu Binjie, I would like to congratulate Beijing Review.

Beijing Review is an internationally circulated, English-language weekly that covers current affairs. It has played a unique role in China's periodicals.

Beijing Review was launched 50 years ago. Since then, China has experienced great development and has been increasingly integrated into the world. Taking advantage of its position as an internationally oriented magazine, Beijing Review has accurately reported on China's development in various fields and provided rich information about the country on a timely basis.

Beijing Review has promoted mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and peoples from many other countries around the world. The magazine has widespread influence at home and abroad.

Over the years, Beijing Review has accumulated rich experience in communicating with the rest of the world. Its editors and reporters have strong skills and abilities to cover a wide variety of news topics, conduct interviews and edit articles. They also have strived to continually improve the publication.

With the deepening of China's reform and the open policy, international exchanges and cooperation in cultural affairs and publishing are occurring more frequently. The country's periodical industry has entered a new stage of innovation, development, exchange and cooperation.

It is my hope that Beijing Review continues to build upon its 50-year legacy of communicating with the international community and informing it about China's development.

I believe that Beijing Review will continue to build on its strengths and update its guiding principles, content, communication methods and operation models.

I believe Beijing Review, with its unique style, will be better, more influential, and make new and greater contributions to the development of China's periodical and communication industry and to the deepening of international exchanges and cooperation.

Finally, I wish Beijing Review a more beautiful tomorrow.

Thank you!