Tempting it is to call it the Party of the Century. But having expelled numerous foreign journalists from the country in the past few years, China is now not quite rolling out the red carpet for them, in hopes of telling a worldwide audience its story of 100 years of triumph.
On 1 July, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) shall celebrate 100 years since its founding. And in the run up to the anniversary, nods to the momentous occasion have been ongoing throughout 2021.
Nationally, the hammer and sickle that is the emblem of the CCP has been featured image in the media’s lead stories all year long. On a local level, cities have enacted photography exhibitions illustrating the CCP’s defining moments, while local media outlets are ongoing in their celebration of those working for the masses.
And as the anniversary draws ever nearer, China now wants the world to know too.
Hence foreign journalists are being “warmly welcomed” to cover the grand celebrations that will take place in the days surrounding 1 July, reported Xinhua this morning.
Foreign journalists in this context includes those from Taiwan, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region.
But the report also indicates that the number of foreign journalists shall be strictly limited. A prior application must first be made and approved, one that presumably involves extensive COVID tests and evidence of vaccination.
Applications are to be made online at http//reg100cpc.zgjx.cn and will be accepted from 1-12 June, 2021. At time of writing, this website was unresponsive.
For reporters not able or approved to come to Beijing, the official media news centre shall make available for download a variety of documents, text, photographs and video, for use by media the world over. The news centre goes live on 26 June.
