New rules give foreign media more freedom in China

Source: Xinhua  |   2008-10-18  |     ONLINE EDITION

CHINA issued new rules on reporting activities by foreign correspondents on its territory late yesterday, allowing them to interview without application to foreign affairs departments.

"The new rules follow the major principles and spirits of the media regulations introduced for the Beijing Olympics," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said at a late night press conference.

The conference began 15 minutes before the expiry of the temporary Olympic rules, which were introduced on January 1, 2007 and removed media restrictions on foreign reporters during the Beijing Games.

"In the form of a long-lasting law, the 23-item new rules make that temporary arrangement a standard practice," Liu said.

"The new regulations are significantly different from those issued in 1990," spokesman said.

Foreign reporters wishing to interview organizations or individuals in China no longer need to be received and accompanied by the Chinese organizations, Liu said.

It canceled an item in the old version that asked foreign reporters to get approval from the local government's foreign affairs department when they wanted to do reporting in the regions open to them.

The new rules also lifted an item asking them to get approval from the Foreign Ministry when they wanted to visit the regions not open to them and register at the police.

"Foreign reporters still need to ask for permission to do reporting in Tibet and other areas that are off-limits to foreign reporters, like some military facilities," Liu said.

The 17th item of the new rules said foreign reporters need to gain agreement from the person or organization to be interviewed while they are working in China.

According to the new rules, permanent offices of foreign media and reporters can "temporarily" import, install and use radio communication devices for news reporting after gaining approvals from the Chinese government according to laws.