Twenty-seven journalists from 24 overseas Chinese media groups participated in the "Interview Week for Overseas Chinese Media" activity held by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council and the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government from May 9 to May 15. These overseas Chinese journalists from 16 countries in Asia, Europe, the Americas and Oceania not only saw a spectacular Shanghai World Expo but also the vitality of China.

As an important window for overseas Chinese to learn more about their motherland, overseas Chinese media groups have been reporting on the Shanghai World Expo from all angles.

A Japan-based newspaper office is publishing a six-month special series about the Shanghai World Expo, with two pages periodically reporting the conditions of the Expo and comments about the Expo. SinoVision has a special program called "Watch the World Expo" to consecutively broadcast live coverage of the Expo during the interviewing week.

A newspaper based in Moscow is publishing a "Stories of the Expo" series to introduce the grand events in Shanghai and show the Expo from the perspective of overseas Chinese. Another Japan-based newspaper office reported on the Expo extensively and at the same time, published features such as "My views of the Expo." In addition, Malaysia's Oriental Daily even reported on the opening ceremony of the Expo in a six-page story and have been reporting two pages daily ever since.

Why is the booming 2010 Shanghai World Expo attracting significant attention from so many overseas Chinese media groups, setting off an upsurge of reporting on the Shanghai World Expo?

First, this is the first time in history that a comprehensive World Expo has been held in a developing country. It is also the largest and has the most international exhibitions in the 159-year history of the World Expo.

Second, the theme "Better City, Better Life" is appropriate and timely and has been widely recognized by the international community. This is also the first time in history that cities have been the focal point of the World Expo.

Third, the Chinese elements, the special symbols of the Shanghai World Expo, are the reasons for attracting significant attention from so many overseas Chinese media groups and the upsurge of reporting at Shanghai World Expo.

Fourth, and more importantly, the hearts of overseas Chinese and the Chinese people have always been linked together. With an international perspective of China, the overseas Chinese media groups can showcase every little thing in China to overseas Chinese and the world.

(Source: People's Daily Online)