CRI听力:Foreign journalists and diplomats discuss 19th CPC National Congress

Following Wedensday's opening session of the 19th National Congress of the CPC, foreign journalists and diplomats have been sharing their views on China's future and the country's influence on the rest of the world,especially in the economic field.

"My topic issues are culture, innovation and technology."

"I'm really here to look at the economic and social progress in China, as much the politics."

The Congress has attracted around 1,800 foreign journalists who are intent on covering various topics. Sutirtho Patranobis, working for India's Hindustan Times newspaper, is among those who attended the opening session of the Congress at the Great Hall of the People to hear Xi Jinping's report on the work conducted by the 18th Central Committee of the CPC.

"I think President Xi has more or less covered a wide range of subjects that are important to China. I think he's giving a fair idea about how the Communist Party is looking to progress for the next five years," said Patranobis.

Patranobis added the status of the Chinese economy is one of the major areas of interest for foreign journalists.

"I think an important part of the Congress would be to see if there is any change in economic policy, whether we will see state-owned enterprises become stronger. That is also an important factor that I'll be looking into," said Patranobis.

In his report, Xi Jinping suggested the dream of the Chinese people is closely connected to the aspirations of people from other countries, saying China will continue to pursue a strategy that benefits both China and the rest of the world. 

Robert Smith, a journalist from Bahrain, said it's suggestions like this that people in his country want to hear.

"I'm from an Arab country; I'm based on the Arab world. So we are interested in obviously how the Belt and Road Initiative, the policies, the foreign policies of Chinese government, how that will impact or benefit other countries and Arab region, because obviously that's a lot of investment from China into other countries,"explained Smith.

Of particular interest at the National Congress is any reference to the "Belt and Road" initative. 

Masood Khalid, Pakistan's Ambassador to China, said the Chinese-initated development program is already generating a lot of interest abroad.

"When I look at the future, the One Belt and One Road initiative is for the greater good of the world. This vision of the One Belt and One Road will bring prosperity and development, to not only the region but also to other region of the world," said the Ambassador. 

New Zealand is also one of a growing number of countries which have started to look increasingly to China to help develop their economic prospects. Noting that his country was the first developed country to sign a free trade agreement with China in 2008, New Zealand's Ambassador to China, John McKinnon, said he's pleased with the economic path China has been taking.

"Certainly in the present environment, we support any moves toward an international level of trading, toward anti-protectionism and support globalization. This is a very helpful framework and context for thinking about the Belt and Road Initiative," said the Ambassador.

In addition to economy, innovation, infrastructure and cross-cultural exchanges are also expected to be topics of intense discussion among international observers as the National Party Congress continues forward.