The Japanese-based Asahi Shimbun on Wednesday opened a branch in Shenyang, capital of northeastern China's Liaoning Province, with the approval of the Chinese Foreign Ministry to become the first foreign media organization to have resident correspondents in Shenyang.

The Shenyang Branch will be the 32nd overseas correspondents station of Asahi Shimbun and the fourth on the Chinese mainland. The other three are in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. It also has branches in Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei.

Asahi Shimbun plans to strengthen its coverage of northeast China through the Shenyang Branch.

With a history of 127 years, Asahi Shimbun is one of Japan's main national newspapers.. It has 300 correspondent stations domestically, with a daily circulation of more than 8 million and an evening paper circulation of over 4 million.

Source: Xinhua