Watch, listen and learn.

That's what the spokespersons from 15 major central government and Party departments were told before Premier Wen Jiabao's press conference for 1,200 foreign and domestic journalists on Friday.

It was the second year that the State Council Information Office (SCIO) invited the spokespersons to attend the annual event and learn from the premier how to better communicate with the press.

Among them were spokespersons from the Communist Party of China's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the ministries of health, education, railways, education and public security.

"It's also a good opportunity for spokespersons to get a whole picture of China's policies and development, and to learn what the media is interested in," Guo Weimin, director of SCIO's Press Bureau, said.

Wang Xuming, the Ministry of Education spokesman, said he picked up quite a few tips from the premier.

"The questions (from the media) ranged from foreign relations, economy, political reform to social issues, and now I know China better," Wang said.

(China Daily 03/17/2007 page2)