2008 Beijing International Media Center to receive overseas media application

The 2008 Beijing International Media Center (BIMC) will start to receive the application for non-accredited overseas journalists as of April 25 and will end on May 20.

The BIMC, designed to provide news information and reception services to all journalists without the accreditation certificates from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), serves as a major channel for journalists to cover news about China during the Beijing Olympic Games.

The center, locating on the city's central axial line between the second and the third ring roads, two km to the Bird Nest National Stadium, will open to domestic and overseas journalists formally on July 8.

The center will provide services covering registration, information, consultation, entertainment, transportation, accommodation and catering. Beside, the center plans to help journalists travel to other co-host cities for reporting.

Application for non-accredited overseas journalists started on April 25. They should register at the BIMC official website and fill up forms on line as required, download and print out a corresponding form, which shall be signed by the chief officers of their news organizations together with the relevant documents such as photocopies of the pages containing valid information on their passports, registration certificates and brief introductions of their organizations in both Chinese and English languages.

Those who have offices in China should hand in the above documents to the BIMC via their offices, while those who do not have offices in China should hand in the documents to the Chinese embassies or consulates in their countries.

Journalists from Hong Kong and Macao should respectively deliver the documents to the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in their region.

Journalists from Taiwan should go to the China Travel Agency offices in Hong Kong or Macao to hand in the documents, while those who have offices in the mainland shall go directly to the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

Others can apply at the Chinese embassies or consulates in their countries.

After receiving confirmation notice from the BIMC, overseas journalists shall to the Chinese embassies or consulates in their countries for temporary journalist visas (J-2 visa), declare their equipment at the customs before entering China, go to the BIMC for accreditation and other certificates.

The application will end on May 20. The BIMC will not accept any applications after the deadline.