Officials from the administrative committee of the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone attended the website's opening ceremony. They include: Zhou Qingsong, deputy director of Pingtan's administrative committee (L1); Lu Chengsheng, director of the Fujian External Publicity Office (L2); Zhu Ling, editor in chief of China Daily (L3); Gong Qinggai, secretary of the Party Working Committee and director of Pingtan's administrative committee (R2); and Zhang Xingbo, president of China Daily Website (R1).

Pingtan's English website (pingtan.chinadaily.com.cn) was announced online on Sept 27. Leaders from the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone and China Daily presented the opening ceremony.

This is the first time that Pingtan, an island county in Fujian province, has established an English platform to introduce its preferential policies, investment dynamics and free-trade ports.

Zhou Qingsong, deputy director of Pingtan's administrative committee, introduced that the webpage was designed in a blue hue to fit Pingtan's geographical features and its close relationships with oceanic life and economy.

The website's reporting covers social welfare, economic development, investment projects, urban planning, tourism promotion and scenery introduction.

The webpage also established an exclusive sub-column to provide the public with news on cross-Straits economic, cultural and social issues between Taiwan and Pingtan.

Zhang Xingbo, president of China Daily Website, said China Daily has been accelerating its global newsgathering network construction. It has given priority to the publication of economic zones west of the Straits, including Pingtan.

China Daily Website is the first national English website in China. The website has become a national comprehensive media outlet and the most influential English portal website in China, with more than 31 million page views daily, including 60 percent from overseas.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Michael Thai