As thousands of journalists from around the world started working at the news center of the BRICS Summit, many said they were impressed by the considerate arrangements, professionalism and hospitality they have encountered.

They were preparing for the next few intensive days, focusing on the future of BRICS and its impact on their own countries.

"I took part in many international events, but this experience is unique because in every part of the organization of this summit, we saw professionalism," said Aly Diouf, head of tourism and information and communication technology columns at Soleil Business magazine in Senegal.

"Everything is well managed here," he said. "The volunteers are very polite."

Diouf, who is participating in a 10-month program in China, said he has traveled a lot in China, met officials and visited many enterprises.

"I realize that China is a very strong economy, so the other thing you need to strengthen may be people-to-people exchanges. You have a strong country; you have to present it to the world.... The BRICS Summit and the Belt and Road Initiative are very important to open China to the rest of the world."

Apurva Narendra, an editor at The Indian Express, said he was most interested in two aspects of the summit: how India-China ties will move forward after the summit and how BRICS countries will progress in the next five years. Jelly Musico, a reporter at Philippine News Agency, said he is very interested in the BRICS Plus model introduced recently, under which China proposes to expand participation in the bloc.

Leaders from five other emerging markets and developing countries - Egypt, Guinea, Mexico, Tajikistan and Thailand - will attend the Dialogue of Emerging Markets and Developing Countries during the summit and engage in dialogue with the BRICS members.

Musico said he expects that his country might also forge deeper cooperation with BRICS countries in the near future.

Edmund Smith-Asante, a reporter for the Ghanaian newspaper Daily Graphic, said his "first impression on the venue is that it's very beautiful. Everything's so organized. .. You did a very good job."

Smith-Asante said he expects BRICS topics and outcomes to benefit Africa and the whole world.

"I want to hear what President Xi Jinping will say in his address at the summit. I also want to hear what the participants will put on the table during the summit," he said.

Yu Dunhai, director of the media center, said more than 3,000 reporters from 80 countries and regions registered to report on the summit.

Yu said the media center, which covers about 8,000 square meters, has tea break areas that are designed with features of Chinese culture as well as the culture of southern Fujian province, where the summit is being held.

Chen Liubing contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at [email protected]

(China Daily 09/04/2017 page3)