Article 7.
An entity to be designated as an agent of a foreign news agency for
the distribution of news and information in China shall meet the following
requirements and submit a written application to Xinhua News Agency:
(1) being legally qualified;
(2) enjoying good credit in acting as an agent for news and information
distribution;
(3) possessing the service network and transmitting means commensurate with
its business; and
(4) other requirements as prescribed by Chinese laws and administrative
regulations and rules of government departments.
Article 8. Xinhua News Agency shall,
within 20 days from the date it receives the written application of a foreign
news agency or designated entity, make a decision on whether to grant or not to
grant the application. If it decides to grant the application, it shall issue
the document of approval; otherwise, it shall notify the applicant of the decision in
writing and explain the reasons why.
Article 9. Before releasing news and information in China in accordance
with the scope of business approved in the approval document, a foreign news
agency shall sign an agency agreement with the designated entity, and within 15
days from the date of the agreement is signed, submit the agreement to Xinhua
News Agency for the record.
Article 10. Before altering its scope of business, transmitting means, etc.,
a foreign news agency shall apply anew to Xinhua News Agency for an approval
document.
Article 11. News and information released in China by foreign news agencies
shall not contain any of the following that serves to:
(1) violate the basic principles enshrined in the Constitution of the
People's Republic of China;
(2) undermine China's national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity;
(3) endanger China's national security, reputation and interests;
(4) violate China's religious policies or preach evil cults or superstition;
(5) incite hatred and discrimination among ethnic groups, undermine their
unity, infringe upon their customs and habits, or hurt their feelings;
(6) spread false information, disrupt China's economic and social order, or
undermine China's social stability;
(7) propagate obscenity and violence, or abet crimes;
(8) humiliate or slander another person, or infringe upon the legitimate
rights and interests of another person;
(9) undermine social ethics or the fine cultural traditions of the Chinese
nation; and
(10) include other content banned by Chinese laws and administrative
regulations.
