The past seven months have witnessed increased coverage of China
in the international media, thanks to the bulging resident foreign
correspondents corps, overseas media field trips and most
importantly, a fitting legal framework governing their work in the
country.
"We are encouraged to see an increasing number of reports by
foreign journalists, which now cover every aspect of our society,"
Liu Jianchao, director-general of the Information Department of the
Foreign Ministry, told China Daily in an exclusive
interview Thursday.
"We are also encouraged to see that the new regulations have
been widely welcomed and followed by foreign journalists, either
staying in, or just making a brief visit to, China."
He was referring to the Regulations on Reporting Activities in
China by Foreign Journalists during the Beijing Olympic Games and
the Preparatory Period, which took effect on Jan. 1.
According to the regulations, foreign media professionals enjoy
wide and free access to report from China. "China has followed up
on its pledge to facilitate the work of foreign journalists in
China," he said. "They can do interviews as long as they get the
permission of interviewees.
"It's not easy to enact a new legal document," Liu admitted. "We
find it a sweating job to set up coordination networks and make
clarifications to the grassroots across a country as big as
China."
Liu cited a few cases in which related central and local
government bodies have made tremendous efforts to ensure "overall
and accurate" implementation of the new regulations.
China Customs has simplified procedures to enable foreign
journalists clear broadcasting equipment faster than before. All
Chinese embassies and consulates have speeded up visas
applications, he added.
The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX
Olympiad has also done a lot to smooth the way for international
media to cover Beijing's preparations for next year's Games.
Many departments in both central and local governments have set
up spokesperson systems, which give quicker response and more
information to journalists' enquiries.
The Information Department of the Foreign Ministry even set up a
round-the-clock hotline answering questions from foreign
journalists. "We are trying to help them at the earliest time, even
at midnight," Liu said.
A foreign journalist once called from a village where he said he
was stopped by a village leader. "As soon as we received the call,
we contacted the local government and enabled the journalist to
accomplish his work," he said.
"There have been fewer complaints from the foreign media," Liu
said. Instead, he and his fellow officers have been swamped by
constant positive appraisals from the foreign correspondents on the
far-reaching significance of the regulations.
"The regulations have helped create a better environment for
foreign journalists to cover their stories in China in a more
comprehensive, objective and balanced way and enable their
audiences and readers to understand what is happening in China,"
Liu said. They are particularly significant as the Olympics is only
one year ahead.
As evidence of growing interest and confidence from the
international media, Liu cited a sharp increase of resident foreign
correspondents in China since the year's start. The contingent now
numbers 705 from 351 media organizations based in 53 countries,
compared to 606, 315 and 49 seven months ago.
Meanwhile, some 2,060 foreign journalists came to China on
reporting tours.
While expressing his own confidence in implementation of the
regulations, Liu acknowledged that it was unrealistic to expect
that the regulations be implemented without glitches.
"The regulations' full implementation needs close coordination
among different government bodies and it takes time for local
governments and organizations to fully understand the terms of the
regulations," he said.
While foreign media workers have the freedom to cover China,
they must still abide by the Chinese laws and live up to
professional standards.
China will continue to provide an open environment for foreign
journalists, but it is essential that they establish mutual trust
and win the confidence of the Chinese side, he said. "That way,
more and more Chinese will get used to being interviewed by foreign
media."
Liu stressed that goodwill and constructive suggestions from the
foreign media will always be welcome, but the communication should
work both ways. "We are listening to them, therefore, at the same
time, I hope they also listen to us so that China can be reported
in a more balanced and objective way," he said.
"We look forward to receiving journalists from across the world
here in Beijing in 2008. I am sure the foreign press in China will
enjoy an even better working environment and have more access to
information in the future," Liu said.
(China Daily August 3, 2007)
