Media Advisory

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Seminars on topical issues will be the focus of interest in the run-up to the Thirty-Fifth Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) from Wednesday, 8 May to Sunday, 12 May 2002 in Shanghai, People's Republic of China (PRC).

Review the seminars.

Seminars are open to all accredited participants. Government, private sector, and civil society representatives will share their views on development and financial issues from 8 to 11 May 2002. Country presentations for investors will take place from 9 to 12 May 2002.

The Opening Ceremony and Opening Session of the Annual Meeting will take place in the Shanghai International Convention Center (SHICC) on Friday, 10 May. Business Sessions will also be held in SHICC on Saturday, 11 May and Sunday, 12 May. The sessions will end at about 12:00 noon on Sunday, 12 May.

The Annual Meeting will be attended by Governors of ADB's 60 members, including some Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. Representatives from banks, other international financial institutions, and NGOs will also be there.

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Please note that video and photographic coverage of the Opening Session at the Shanghai International Convention Center (SHICC) on Friday, 10 May, will be open to all accredited TV crews and photographers. The opening ceremony starts at 10 a.m. but cameramen and photographers are advised to arrive by 9 a.m. to clear security. During the ceremony, photographers will be based on platforms at the back of the hall but will be allowed closer to the podium for the first few minutes of the speeches. Mult boxes will be available for live sound. Video and photographic coverage of the Business Sessions at SHICC will also be permitted. Platforms will also be installed for this purpose.Important Advice For Video Crews: PRC customs has strict regulations regarding the importation of equipment. Videographers should have submitted lists of their equipment and those arriving for the Annual Meeting will be met by representatives of the Shanghai authorities at Shanghai airport to facilitate customs clearance. For this reason, videographers should enter and depart from PRC through Shanghai airport.

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Registration is now closed. For those who have registered, identification badges entitling the holder to attend sessions of the Board of Governors will be issued at the Registration Desks. You need to present your passport to claim your badges. If you are based in PRC, you may present an alternative photo ID such as a valid driver's license. The Registration Desks will be open daily from Wednesday, 8 May to Sunday, 12 May. The badges should be worn at all times in the Meeting areas and at official events.

Please note that, unless we are advised otherwise in writing, your name and position may be disclosed to other organizations through conference documentation for purposes of issuing invitations to other functions related to the Meeting.

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A fully-equipped Media Center will be set up for journalists at the International Media Center located at the Oriental Pearl Tower. Staffed by ADB's Office of External Relations, the Media Center will have desk space for more than 100 journalists and booths for news agencies. The Media Center will be open daily from 8 a.m. starting on Wednesday, 8 May until 5 p.m. on Sunday, 12 May.

Full communication services will be available. However, media are advised to bring their own notebook computers. Telephones will have computer link facilities for local as well as international calls. Internet services will be provided. All phone and fax services will be provided on a user-pay basis.

Closed-circuit television coverage of the Business Sessions will be provided at the Media Center. Information on press conferences and other events of interest will be posted on bulletin boards.

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A media briefing will be given by Media Liaison Officer Ian Gill at the International Media Center at 6 p.m. on 8 May. The briefing will be followed by cocktails.

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Arrangements for travel and hotel accommodation will be the responsibility of attending media. Hotel accommodation has been block-booked by the ADB Secretariat and will be handled by the Shanghai China International Travel Service Co. Ltd. (SCITS).

Reservations should be made directly with SCITS by completing the attached Reservation Form and sending it to:

Shanghai China International Travel Service Co. Ltd. (SCITS)
Room 610, No. 1277 Beijing Road
Shanghai 200040, People's Republic of China
Fax: (86-21) 6289-7838 or (86-21) 6289-6365
Telephone Nos.: (86-21) 6289-8279 or (86-21) 6289-7827
E-mail: Zhanglt@scits.com or zhangyx@scits.com

List of hotels and their rates

For further inquiries, please contact SCITS directly.

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The financial and business media, especially those with ADB-related material, are welcome to display their publications during the Asian Development Bank's Annual Meeting in the International Media Center located at the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Publications Center located at the Shanghai International Convention Center (SHICC), Shanghai, People's Republic of China from 8 to 12 May 2002.

The official cargo handler for the Annual Meeting is Shanghai International Convention and Exhibition Corp. Ltd. Media wishing to send publications should contact:

Ms. Ding Wenqi
Shanghai International Convention and Exhibition Corp. Ltd.
Room 505 Office Wing
Hotel Equatorial
65 Yan An Rd., Shanghai 200040
People's Republic of China
Tel. (86-21) 6248-2458
Fax (86-21) 6248-4488

All expenses for the shipment of publications to the Annual Meeting are for the account of media. Media are also responsible for customs clearance in Shanghai and the delivery of publications to the media center and the publications display center at the Shanghai International Convention Center.

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Any queries on the Annual Meeting may be addressed to Mr. Ian Gill, Media Liaison Officer, at:

Asian Development Bank
P.O. Box 789
Manila 0980, Philippines
Telephone: (632) 632-5890 (direct) or (632) 632-5878
Fax: (632) 636-2641 or (636) 636-2640
E-mail: igill@adb.org