Reporting made easier for foreign media

China's new rules on foreign media will make reporting from the country more convenient, Wang Chen, minister of the State Council Information Office, has said.

The new rules, which replace the temporary ones for more than 30,000 foreign journalists covering the Beijing Olympic Games, say overseas correspondents no longer need the government's permission to travel within China or to interview its citizens.

The rules reflect the country's determination to carry forward its opening-up policy, said Wang, whose office co-wrote the 23-point rules.