Reflecting the shifting focus of the international investment community and the recent rapid development in the level and quality of IR activity from Chinese listed companies, IR magazine has extended the conference program this year to include a workshop entitled 'Marketplace and investor communications'. This is being held on the third day of the conference by Xinhua PR Newswire -- the Chinese arm of the world's leading corporate news distribution service company -- PR Newswire.

  (Logos:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031103/CNM001LOGO
           http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20021125/NYM130LOGO-b )

The three day conference that takes place at the Shanghai Marriott Hongqiao, is expected to attract over 350+ investor relations and financial communications professionals from mainland China and South-East Asia.

The prestigious nature of the event has also attracted over 70 high level speakers from around the world to discuss the key issues facing Chinese corporates as to how best they attract international investors.

  The conference sessions include the following key topics:

   * ADR's
   * International IR programmes
   * Minority shareholder rights
   * Tools & technologies of IR
   * Crisis management - SARS case study
   * Media communications
   * Buy side expectations

  Conference speakers include:

   * Liu Hongru, chairman, China Capital Market Research Institute
   * Liu Xiaoguang, chairman, Beijing Capital Land
   * Sun Xiaogang, president, Pengua Fund Management
   * Chen Chao, chairman, Shenzhen Expressway
   * John Williams, executive vice president, PR Newswire
   * Carol Ruth, CEO, The Ruth Group
   * Richard Nichols, CEO, Incepta (The youngest ever CEO of a FTSE 250
     Company)
   * Mark Hynes, managing director of Investor Relations, PR Newswire
   * Nick Humby, group finance director, Manchester United
   * Woosik Chu, vice president - Investor Relations, Samsung Electronics
   * Betty Wong, global head of equity desk, Reuters

The event concludes with the IR Magazine Asia awards 2003. Now in their third year, this will be the first time these awards for best practice in investor relations, corporate governance and financial communication, will be held in mainland China.

About IR magazine

Published in New York and London by Cross-Border Publishing, IR magazine is the only global publication focused on the interface between companies and their investors. IR magazine has hosted annual conference awards ceremonies in the U.S., the U.K., continental Europe, Central & Eastern Europe, Canada, Ireland & South Africa since 1991, with combined attendance of more than 6,000 investor relations professionals.

About Xinhua PR Newswire

Xinhua PR Newswire is a venture created by Xinhua Financial Network and PR Newswire. Xinhua PR Newswire assists companies, public and private, in distributing financial news releases to the media, financial community and general public in China and around the world. Xinhua PR Newswire is the result of a blending of complementary expertise, relationships and experience to enable both Chinese and international companies seeking foreign investments and achieving PR/marketing goals. For more information go to http://www.xinhuaprnewswire.com/ .

SOURCE: Xinhua PR Newswire; IR magazine