Reporters get documents printed at the center. [Photo/China Daily]

A new media center to serve the Boao Forum for Asia started operation on Tuesday as the organization kicked off its 15th annual meeting.

With an investment of 11 million yuan ($1.7 million), the two-floor center covers a total area of 4,159 square meters and consists of a news release room, studios, interview rooms and a public-media workspace. It can accommodate 2,500 journalists. The center, which is about five minutes' walk from the main conference center, is connected it via free electric shuttles.

It took COSCO, the developer of the main conference area and the media center, just five months to complete construction of the center, which is designed to resemble a flying seagull.

"The spread wings signify the economic takeoff of China and Asia," said the chief architect, Zhou Xiaolu.