It is said there are around 60,000 foreigners working, studying and travelling in Beijing. From now on, they will be able to access more information on the city's public services at www.ebeijing.gov.cn, a government-operated English website called eBeijing. Fifty qualified international volunteers were awarded special privileges Wednesday in exchange for their help on the site. CRI's reporter Dan Dan takes a closer look.
REPORTER:
 Here at Beijing's Laoshe Teahouse, a place named after famous Chinese writer and the respected "People's Artist" Lao She, 50 foreign friends are enjoying the ancient Chinese music and Kongfu performances while tasting fragrant tea. They have just been granted certificates and badges from eBeijing. From now on, they will work with their Chinese colleagues to provide foreigners in Beijing with information on public services to better partake of life in the city.
Jiang Wei, the information center manager of the Beijing's Foreign Affairs Office, explains why more international volunteers and new ideas are needed.
"Beijing is becoming an international metropolis. The information we now offer on eBeijing, the cyberspace window of the city, should not only come from our regular staff, but also by foreigners who live and work here. They will provide us with their own views from their own experiences in words and ways they can understand better within their own cultural background."
So far, more than 300 Chinese and foreigners in Beijing have applied for the volunteer positions, with 100 of them selected as qualified to work on the website. They will act as friendly emissaries to promote Sino-foreign exchanges and also be invited to consult the local government aimed at bettering their work.
Hossein Ayati, an Iranian PhD student learning traditional Chinese medicine in Beijing, believes it was a good decision to get involved.
"We volunteers of eBeijing, who love to be engaged in community services, are delighted to have this chance to get involved in the progressive atmosphere of Beijing. We are ready and happy to be of any help to the city we love to live in."
Currently, the service eBeijing offers to foreigners includes everything from news on the capital's major events, to information about travel, life, study and entertainment in Beijing, and laws and regulations related to foreigners.
Forrest Mandeville, an American working in the city's consultancy industry, says it's important to make sure there's enough communication between all different types of people. Through this new project, Beijing will become better prepared to welcome the world for the 2008 Olympic Games.
"I think a lot of the outside world has a serious typical view of China. It is good to have anything to let people know about China that will get them excited and get them here and want to come to China once and fall in love and (feel) you need to come back."
It is also said that to further develop the project, eBeijing is looking for more international volunteers in its 37 brother cities nationwide.
Dan Dan, CRI News.
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