CRI听力:Foreign reporters impressed with a trip to Tianjin

As part of the CPC National Congress, organizers of the political event have invited a group of foreign reporters on a one-day trip to Tianjin to get a first-hand look at some of the latest developments in the Tianjin-Beijing-Hebei region.

The reporters were sent on their trip to Tianjin from Beijing via the new high-speed train known as the "Fuxing." 

The latest-generation high-speed train was put into operation in August, and now connects the major cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area.

Sarah-Catherine Wendt, a reporter with Sinovision TV, says she's very impressed with the new trains.

"One of the things I've been learning about is now China's four great inventions which is high-speed rail, mobile pay and high-speed rail which we did today …super convenient. It's convenient to know I can come from Beijing to Tianjin in just 30 minutes. "

The "Fuxing" high-speed train travels at speeds of around 300 kilometers per hour. 

The high-speed line has been launched to help integrate transportation services within the region as the Chinese government attempts to coordinate economic development among the three areas.

Zhang Bo, senior researcher with China Academy of Railway Sciences, notes the country's railway network has gone through a rapid development over the past decade.

"During the past ten years, China's high-speed railway has gone through fast growth. By the end of 2016, the total length of country's railway reached 124 thousand kilometers, in which high-speed railway reached 22 thousand kilometers, accounting for 60 percent of the total length of high-speed railway in the world."

The reporters were also given a chance to tour Shentong Logistics, a company where robots have been put into service to sorting through the huge amount of parcels which flow through the facility on a daily basis.

Raja Korver, an Israeli reporter, says she's particularly impressed by the advancements being made in technology in China.

"One thing that I was amazed by is a QR code on the Bicycles which you could come with your own cellphone the that application and you can scan QR code and scan the bicycle. You are paying through your application you need no money no cash. I think you are making life easier and that's amazing."

In Tianjin, the group also visited the Binhai New Area.

For many of the journalists on the excursion to Tianjin, this is not only their first trip to China, but also their first opportunity to report directly on China's political events.

While most on the trip have said they're impressed with the tour, most say their main goal is to report on the direction the CPC plans to take China in the coming five years.