Government vows more transparency

The country is promising to improve its information transparency by holding routine briefings every week next year to introduce major decisions, plans and economic and social policies of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council.

The State Council Information Office also updated its directory of spokespeople from different levels of government bodies, with specific names, titles and contact information. Included is information about the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, which didn't release the information last year.

"I was told recently by some of our foreign friends that it was not easy to get through to some spokespeople, making it difficult for them to arrange interviews," said Cai Mingzhao, minister of the State Council Information Office, during his speech at the 2015 New Year Reception.