(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-26 20:00

On January 1, 2007, regulations on foreign journalists' reporting activities in China during the Beijing Olympics and preparatory period took effect.

Under the new rule, foreign journalists no longer have to be accompanied or assisted by a Chinese official when they report in the country. They also no longer need to apply to provincial foreign affairs offices for permission to report in all of the country's provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.

In addition, when the Law on Emergency Responses was enacted in November, one provision was erased from the final draft which prohibited media from reporting emergent accidents on its own.

"As China continues to push forward its opening up drive, I believe the work environment for foreign journalists will get better and better," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang.

At the Party congress and this year's parliamentary session in March, Chinese and overseas journalists were free as never before in their coverage of the events. By example, they were allowed to observe and raise questions during panel discussions.

From the second day after the quake struck, the Information Office of the State Council has been regularly holding press conferences and an 80-member international media group was organized to the quake areas.

After the March 14 Lhasa riot, the office also organized an international media group for a three-day trip to the Tibetan capital. This gave reporters opportunities to see with their own eyes what had happened there.

When meeting with domestic and foreign reporters at the quake epicenter in Wenchuan recently, Premier Wen Jiabao said China's attitude was open and the country welcomed reporters from the world over to fairly and objectively report on the disaster and rescue efforts.

"When dealing with emergencies or other problems, our policy of opening up will never change," he promised.

With the laws, regulations and pledges from the top level, one can expect an even more transparent China underscoring "the right to know" in the days to come.

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