Revealing problems 'shows confidence'

Only by telling the rich, complex stories of its people can China and the Chinese media help foreigners understand this confident, capable nation, Guo Wei - min, deputy director of the country's State Council Information Office, said in a speech on Thursday.

Speaking at a seminar to mark the first anniversary of Closer to China, an English-language show on China Central Television dedicated to tackling tough topics such as the Tibet autonomous region and the government's management of the Internet, Guo said that international attention was increasingly focused on China as it plays a growing role in world affairs.

"In the past we were worried that people wouldn't want to listen when we talked about ourselves, but now people want us to talk," he said. "What to talk about and how to say it has now become the challenge."