Journalists from Africa and across the world are descending on Beijing to cover the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation.

"I want to report how the forum has helped Africa and China since its establishment in 2000," Setshege Baruti from Botswana, told China Daily while checking in at the press centre for the Beijing Summit and the Third Ministerial Conference of the forum.

By 8:00 pm yesterday, 89 journalists from Africa and 141 from countries other than China and Africa had obtained press credentials from News Mansion on Chang'an Avenue.

Through covering the activities of heads of state and ministers at the forum, Baruti said he would also try to find answers to questions such as "how is the forum beneficial to all countries?"

"I want to cover bilateral relations, friendship, co-operation and upon what the co-operation is based during the summit," said Alex Kazungu, from Kenya News Agency.

For reporters like Carlos Morais Dasillva from Guinea-Bissau State Radio and Television Corporation, China is not a strange land.

"Before I came to China, I (had) known Chairman Mao Zedong. People have been talking a lot about Chairman Mao. He is a great man. He helped the liberation of African countries," Dasillva said.

"I know many things about China through CCTV, which provided programmes in Kenya," said Kazungu.

They've also learned about China through Chinese people who are now working in Africa.

"There are many Chinese businessmen in our country," Baruti said. "They bring in goods, materials, help build schools and create employment opportunities for our people."

"I have many Chinese friends. And in our country, my friends and I watch 'Journey to the West,' the Chinese classics, and we learn Chinese by watching the TV series. I can speak a little Chinese," Ernest Nsiah Youngmann, a photographer from Ghana's Presidential Office, told China Daily.

Quite a few have been to China before and they said they are impressed by the changes that are taking place.

Kazungu came to China last year, accompanying President Mwai Kibaki for a state visit. "There are already many good changes within one year," he observed. "People are more friendly."

Photographer Youngmann accompanied Ghana's President John Agyekum Kufour on his state visit to China three years ago. "I saw a very developed China then," Youngmann said.

"Previously we watched Chinese movies about martial arts, ancient palaces and rural people. But when I went to Shanghai three years ago, it was a modern metropolis," he added.

Besides covering the conference, the journalists interviewed all said they hoped to see more of China.

Jesus Tarcille Bomocwoo, from Central African Republic's state television, said he had read about China often in the newspapers back in his country. "But to see it for the first time is different from reading the words," he said.

As well as the forum and summit, he said he would like to visit big Chinese enterprises and factories, and also some interesting places.

"I have watched videos in the Chinese embassy, and I have learned about these interesting places such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City," he said.

"But I really plan to visit the countryside, ancient palaces and rural people in China in the future if I have the opportunity. The people there are simple and honest," photographer Youngmann said.

Whatever plan they have, "we will bring back a complete record of our experience in China," Dashillva said.

(China Daily 11/02/2006 page2)