Main media center for 9th Asian Winter Games to start trial operation Tuesday

The main media center for the upcoming 9th Asian Winter Games, held in northeast China's Harbin City, will start trial operation on Tuesday.

The main media center, with two major sections -- the main press center and the international broadcasting center -- is set to provide supporting services for accredited journalists and broadcasters.

Covering an area of 10,168 square meters, the main press center features nine functional segments including a comprehensive service area and a tea break area.

The international broadcasting center, with a planned area of ​​10,575 square meters, will be the core technical area for official live broadcast agencies and rights-holders of various countries.

Organizers said that during the main media center's trial operations, full-factor tests will be carried out to check functional operations of all parts.

"[Through the trial operation, we need to check] the condition of the facilities. We need to conduct joint debugging and testing to ensure all sectors can smoothly work together. Additionally, we also need to verify whether all services can coordinate effectively and achieve convergence, forming a complete operational chain when every part is interconnected. Any issues discovered must be resolved promptly to ensure smooth operations and deliver quality services for accredited Chinese and foreign media workers," said Lu Zhuangzhi, operating director of the main media center.

The 9th Asian Winter Games will be held from Feb 7 to 14 in Harbin, reputed as the "Ice City" of China for its extra-low temperatures in winter and the annual tradition of displaying extravagant ice sculptures.

Over the course of the 12 competition days, athletes from various Asian countries and regions will compete in six major events, 11 sub-events, and 64 disciplines.

Main media center for 9th Asian Winter Games to start trial operation Tuesday

People in the Republic of the Congo say they are looking forward to expanding cooperation with China to more fields including medicine.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is going to visit the central African country on Tuesday, as part of his four-nation tour of Africa.

Officials said that the two sides will implement some of the programs that were agreed upon at last year's Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing.

Economic relations between China and the Republic of the Congo date back to the 1960s.

Over the years, China has built factories, roads and bridges that have helped transform the country's agriculture-based economy into a semi-industrialized one.

Crude oil, copper and wood have been the Republic of the Congo's major exports to China, according to global trade data.

Congolese people hope their government can work to strengthen relations with one of the country's most important partners. In addition to infrastructure, people say some of the other areas that China and the Republic of the Congo plan to develop include health, agriculture and security.

"For me I think cooperation should extend to the healthcare sector, as we know that Chinese are good at medicine," said Ragma Nganga, a university student in Brazzaville.

"Cooperation between China and Congo has been remarkable especially in infrastructure projects. Chinese have built many roads," said Josue Mifoundou, a local digital media practitioner.

In 2018, China and the Republic of the Congo signed a memorandum of understanding on projects under the Belt and Road Initiative - China's flagship infrastructure initiative that's helping link Asia, Europe, Latin America and Africa to China through ports, roads and railways.

Congolese people anticipate expanded cooperation with China