Beijing's hotel managers, market sellers and tour guides are busy
brushing up on their language skills in preparation for the arrival
of thousands of African guests.
The visitors are no ordinary tourists, but rather heads of state
and high-ranking officials from 48 African countries, who will
attend the Beijing Summit and third Ministerial Conference of
the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation starting November 1.
"This is expected to be the largest summit ever staged in the
country since 1949. It is also a milestone marking China-Africa
economic co-operation and cultural exchanges," Foreign Ministry
spokesman Liu Jianchao said at a regular news briefing on
Tuesday.
More than 3,000 people from Africa will attend the event,
according to the foreign ministry.
At least 20 five-star hotels in the Chinese capital will host
state leaders and delegates, according to one organizer.
The official, who declined to be named, refusing to reveal
detailed arrangements for the African guests, said: "We will try
our best to make sure our African friends have a good stay in
Beijing during the summit, by offering them satisfactory
accommodation, delicious food, security and convenience."
Beijing Television reported that hotels have made special
preparations for their presidential suites. Chefs at hotel
restaurants will show off their skills at both Chinese and African
cuisine.
Banners carrying words of welcome line major streets,
highlighting the summit's theme of "friendship, peace, development
and co-operation."
Flower beds have been set up on the Tian'anmen Square, to the
west of which is the Great Hall of the People where the summit is
to be held. Usually this level of decoration is reserved for
National Day on October 1st.
Beijing residents are busy preparing. A neighborhood committee
in Dongcheng District last week invited two African students
studying at the Beijing Institute of Technology to teach local
residents African etiquette.
"We want to show our best manners to welcome our friends from
afar," said Wang Yixian, a resident in Hepingli neighborhood.
To help ease transport concerns for African leaders and
government officials, Beijing Benz-Daimler Chrysler Automotive Co
Ltd provided 110 cars as official sedans. They have also helped
train drivers.
The city will also implement temporary traffic measures on major
roads leading to the airport, conference venue and hotels during
the summit. Around 80 percent of government cars will be banned
from the streets.
Beijing authorities have also mobilized 810,000 volunteers from
all walks of life to patrol residential communities and streets as
an extra security measure, according to reports by the Xinhua News
Agency.
(China Daily November 1, 2006)
