The G20 Summit Media Center began operations on Sept 1, js.zjol.com.cn reported.

Nearly 5,000 journalists from over 70 countries signed up for the summit. According to Wu Xin, a local international communication official, over 2,000 journalists from 660-plus foreign news agencies will be covering the Summit.

With a total area of 15,000 square meters, the center is on first floor of the main venue and is able to accommodate 5,000 journalists.

The center is equipped with an enquiry desk, a public media working area, a press release area, a master control room, interview rooms, and refreshment areas. Service volunteers are allocated for each area.

"Finance and trade and infrastructure construction will be a focus for us," said Zhou Ke, a journalist from CCTV-4, the national television network in China.

"I would like to learn more at the coming summit about how internet finance might boost the economy during the global economic downturn," said Lance, a journalist from the European Broadcasting Union, an alliance of public service media entities.

The media center will be open from 8 am to 8 pm on Sept 1 and 2. As of Sept 3, it will run 24 hours a day until 12 am on Sept 6.

Journalists from home and abroad arrive at the G20 Summit Media Center on Sept 1 in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo by Xu Bin and Li Zhenyu]