China News Service marks 60th anniversary

A ceremony was held in Beijing on Thursday to celebrate the 60th founding anniversary of China News Service (CNS), a Chinese news agency mainly serving overseas Chinese media.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao wrote an inscription, "Spreading Chinese voices, leaving historical memories," for CNS.

Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, commended CNS's 60 years of service in a congratulatory letter, urging it to build itself into a global first-rank news organization.

Li asked CNS to improve its news coverage so as to consolidate and expand its influence among overseas Chinese.

In a congratulatory message, Vice Premier Li Keqiang expressed his hope that CNS could enhance its global influence as the world is craving more comprehensive, in-depth and correct information on China's new situations.

Addressing the ceremony, Liu Yunshan, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Party's publicity department, said CNS should keep on innovating and study international communication patterns to make its news products more appealing to readers.

CNS was founded on Sept. 14, 1952. It has so far set up 48 domestic and overseas branches, with a staff of more than 2,000. It now offers news services to the world around the clock.

Thursday's gathering was attended by more than 500 people, including the country's major publicity officials, leaders of top news organizations, communication experts and CNS staff.