Zhou Enlai and Chen Yi, accompanied by Jin Zhonghua, at the China Recoustucts 10th anniversary photo exhibition of 1962.	Soong Ching Ling wrote more than 30 articles for China Reconstructs.	Zhou Enlai, Soong Ching Ling, Chen Yi and Deng Yingchao with the China Reconstructs staff on its 10th anniversary.

The founding, construction and development of the People’s Republic of China long since accomplished, the Chinese people have just finished celebrating the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland as they make preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. It is against this vibrant scenario that China Today celebrates its 55th birthday.

From China Reconstructs to China Today

Fifty-five years ago, in the early years of the People’s Republic of China, Western powers hostile to the newborn Communist regime carried out a total-containment policy of political non-recognition, economic blockade and military encirclement of New China. China was also subjected to vicious media attacks. In order to break through this imperialist media barricade, Soong Ching Ling, at the suggestion of Premier Zhou Enlai, founded China Reconstructs in January 1952. Under her leadership, this magazine took on the historic mission of factually reporting on China’s economy, culture and its people’s livelihood, in the face of the contemporary grim and complex international situation. In order to skirt the Western press blockage and avoid politicized publicity, the magazine was published in the name of a non-governmental organization -- the China Welfare Institute. The true picture of China it presented, encompassing the daily improving lives of its people and various flourishing undertakings, was based on a solid factual foundation.

After publication of the first issue of China Reconstructs, Soong Ching Ling wrote a letter to Jin Zhonghua, then editor-in-chief, stating the aims of the magazine, “I hope that through efforts we make now and in the future our magazine will become a journal that introduces China to the world and promotes peace.”

China Reconstructs received the solicitude of the Party and state leaders, such as Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Chen Yi and He Long. Premier Zhou presented to the magazine his inscription: “Spread the good will of the Chinese people to people of various countries of the world far and wide, and promote unity among them.”

China Reconstructs was renamed China Today in January 1990, according to the wishes of the late Soong Ching Ling.

Well-known international journalist Israel Epstein came to China from the United States, at the invitation of Soong Ching Ling, to participate in the running and editing of the magazine. He was subsequently its editor-in-chief and editor-in-chief emeritus. Epstein had the distinction of being the only foreigner in China ever to have worked as editor-in-chief of a domestic magazine. From that point onwards, he dedicated his life, through to his death in 2004 at the age of 90, to China Today. Well-known figures such as Jin Zhonghua, Chen Hansheng, Tang Mingzhao, Lu Ping, Li Boti and Chen Linrui, who served as leaders of the magazine, also made everlasting contributions to it. In the past 55 years, more than 100 foreign editors, such as Epstein’s then-wifeElsie Fairfax-Cholmeley, and Nan Green, also worked diligently for the magazine.

China Today, through the common efforts of hundreds of staff members over several generations, has matured. The magazine has, in tandem with the growth of this vast country and its massive population, expanded from a single-language bimonthly magazine to a comprehensive monthly published in six languages, including Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Arabic and German. It is also China’s first magazine to establish overseas branches.

Deng Xiaoping with Israel Epstein, congratulating him on his 70th birthday (1985).	Jiang Zemin and Li Ruihuan congratulate Israel Epstein on his 80th birthday (1995).	Hu Jintao visits Israel Epstein at his home on his 90th birthday (2005).

Tradition of Truthful Reporting, Speaking Through Facts

In 1958, after reading China Reconstructs, Chairman Mao Zedong remarked, “China Reconstructs speaks through facts. All those who are engaged in international communication should follow suit.”

Over the past 55 years, China Today has followed the guiding principle set by Soong Ching Ling of working assiduously to tell the world about China’s development and construction achievements through facts. It has forged links between people on the Chinese mainland and compatriots in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao and overseas and won the trust of readers in more than 150 countries and regions. It speaks through facts, and its contents, covering China’s latest development, are rich and colorful. Chen Yi, former vice premier and foreign minister, wrote in his congratulatory inscription on the 10th anniversary of the founding of the magazine, “Facts speak louder than words, and only truth can convince people. China Reconstructs introduces real conditions to friends in various countries of the world. This is a contribution to world peace.”

In the past 55 years, China Today has followed development and changes in the People’s Republic and advanced with the times. It has carried timely on-the-spot reports, from the land reform of the 1950s to the establishment of the industrial system of New China, to changes in the people’s livelihood, since liberation. It has also reported on China’s reform and opening-up, the rapid development of its economy, the return of Hong Kong and Macao, and improvements in living standards. It gives a true picture of China through facts.

China’s overall national strength and consolidation of its international position draws the attention of peoples of the world. This creates still more development scope for its international communication. China Today will continue to perform its function of truthful reporting on China’s experiences, and achievements in its economic reforms and the elimination of poverty. It will provide timely coverage of efforts to build a people-oriented, harmonious society while pursuing a green GDP, performing its international duties and building a bridge of understanding and friendship between the peoples of China and other countries. Joining hands with people of the world in order to build a harmonious world is China Today’s ultimate mission.

Localization to Meet Readers’ Needs

China Today has always geared itself to international practices. It uses idiomatic language in its translation and editing and employs native speakers to polish and edit articles.

Cai Mingzhao, deputy director of the Information Office of the State Council and president of the China International Publishing Group (CIPG), points out that, in the field of international communication, there are three bottlenecks restricting the development of foreign publicity periodicals. One is how to enhance the pertinence of international communication; another, how to improve the timeliness of international communication; and the third, how to improve the effectiveness of international communication. The CIPG, therefore, has taken a “localization of periodicals” stategy, and China Today is the chosen demonstration unit in this respect.

China Today aims to move the printing, distribution, design and editing of its various editions to its target countries step by step. This shortens the time between editing and publishing and increases the timeliness of information; it also enables closer compliance with readers’ reading tastes.

The Spanish and Arabic editions, as China Today's pilot units, have established a precedent among domestic periodicals in their setting up of overseas branches. China Today now has a Latin America Branch in Mexico and a Middle East Branch in Egypt. Excellent local writers and distributors have joined these two branches and are instrumental in the Spanish and Arabic editions’ topic selection, planning and promotion. The localization strategy has brought China Today closer to its readers and markedly increased its circulation and influence. Articles in the Arabic edition have been reprinted and quoted by various major media in the Middle East, and China Today has become the most authoritative magazine reporting on China in the region.

China Today will continue to show the world the real China through facts. Joining hands with people of the world in order to build a harmonious world is China Today's ultimate mission.