Journalists commence accreditation for G77+China Summit

About 2000 local and international journalists are expected to cover the upcoming group of 77 developing countries plus China (G77 + China) that opens in the historical and eastern city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, in South America on Saturday this week.

Bolivian Information Minister, Amanda Davila, disclosed in Santa Cruz today that so far 167 applications for accreditation from foreign journalists have been received with 50 so far approved.

Ms Davila stressed that no journalist will be allowed access into the exhibition fair called Fexopo Cruz, the venue for the 2014 G77 + China Summit.

And Bolivian President, Evo Morales, yesterday tested both typical and local dishes that will be served to thousands of delegates at Fexopo Cruz during the G77 + China Summit and the golden jubilee celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the bloc, which was founded in 1964 to jointly voice the concerns of the developing countries within the UN system.

After testing the foods, President Morales said he was satisfied with the quality of the food that will be served to his guests and appealed to the organisers of the event to work hard and ensure that everything was in place before Thursday.

President Morales is expected to make a final inspection of the facility on Thursday.

About 76.8 million United States Dollars have been spent on preparations ahead of the G77 + China Summit on investment.

The multimillion investments on preparations are mainly on infrastructural development, purchasing of new vehicles for the police and other departments as well as buying of the equipment for the Summit.

A total of 27 Presidents, 3 Vice Presidents and 4 Prime Ministers are expected to attend the G77 + China Summit that brings together 133 developing and emerging countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia and over 100 high-level delegates.

Zambia will be represented by Vice President, Guy Scott, who is also expected to deliver a speech during the golden jubilee celebrations of the bloc.

President of the General Assembly of the UN, His Excellency Mr John Ashe and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon are among the expected speakers at the Summit.

The Group of 77 was established on the 15th of June 1964 during a United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) held in Geneva, Switzerland.

From the on-set, the conference that started with a group of 75 developing countries pledged to promote equality in the international economic and social order and promote the interests of the developing world.

The 2013, G77 + China Summit was held in Fiji, which is an island country in Melanesia in the South Pacific.