The fifth of March this year marks the 110th birth anniversary of the late Premiere Zhou Enlai and the 50th anniversary of Beijing Review, China's only national English news weekly.

Sun Yifu and his favorite work

Sun Yifu, 75, a retired reporter with People's Pictorial, happened to attend Beijing Review's fifth anniversary reception, where he took pictures of Premiere Zhou Enlai. The memories remain fresh as he reads Beijing Review's 50th anniversary special issue, featuring Zhou's photos on the cover.

"The 50-plus photos I took at the reception are all here. There were only two photographers there; one was me, the other was Du Xiuxian from Xinhua News Agency," Sun tells Beijing Review proudly.

"Over 200 guests were invited, including foreign staff," he adds. "Premiere Zhou was kind and approachable. He not only shook hands with them but also showed his amiableness. For instance, he asked the foreign staff about their nationalities, working environment, difficulties they encountered in daily life, and so forth. "

The launch of Beijing Review and its development thereafter owes a great deal to Zhou's efforts, he says.

"Beijing Review was one of few publications that stayed in operation during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76), thanks to Zhou's direct guidance and protection," recalls Sun. "Those pictures [I took at the reception] were full of historical meaning, but most of them were lost due to various reasons. It is a pity."

Holding a framed amplified profile of a smiling Premier Zhou, he says, "Look at this. It is my favorite."

This was chosen as the cover of Zhou Enlai's biography. Moreover, it was featured in the National Photography Art Exhibitions in the1980s, and has appeared in dozens of magazines and pictorials home and abroad since then. In 1998, on the occasion of Zhou's 100th anniversary, it was used in a picture album edited and released by Central Party Literature Press.

Premiere Zhou, as Sun said, will always stays in people's heart.