The media registration center at Shanghai World Expo is dealing with an avalanche of application forms. Until Wednesday, it has received approximately 13,000 forms, with 589 overseas media, China News Service reports.

According to Song Chao, director of Expo 2010 News Center, there will be four main media departments during the Expo: News Center, International Broadcast Center, Shanghai Puxi News Center, and Media Registration Center, which have been completed.

The official statistics suggest that more than 10 overseas media, including The First (Das Erste Deutsche Fernschen) of Germany, Japan's Nihon Hikikomori Kyokai (NHK) and TV Tokyo, have applied for running commentary on the event, while Reuters will do live broadcasts on the Expo's opening ceremony on April 30.

During the six-month feast, the News Center will provide interview services with 85 recommended aspects and stages of Shanghai, covering environmental protection, energy-saving and pollution emission reduction, social security, conservation of urban history, character protection, population and development, and creative industries, among others.

Journalists, press photographers, radio/TV reporters, and personnel for maintenance support are to be granted a press card, long-term pass or contemporary pass, which will be handed out starting at 9 a.m. on April 26.

Considering the different exposure schedule of pavilions, Song says the trial operation starting from April 20 to 25 will be closed to the media.