The government yesterday vowed to make the work of foreign journalists easier, even as it urged them to obey Chinese laws while covering breaking news.

"We will stick to the opening-up policy and continue serving domestic and foreign journalists. This principle has never changed," the State Council Information Office Minister Wang Chen said at a press conference.

Wang, however, admitted that the authorities faced a challenge in balancing news reporting and maintaining law and order during major incidents.

"We still need to figure out how to facilitate reporters' work while enabling law enforcement departments to maintain order," he said.

Wang hoped that foreign journalists would abide by Chinese laws and temporary regulations imposed by the authorities while covering breaking news.

"Such measures are taken not only to resolve incidents effectively, but also to protect journalists."

China issued new rules on reporting by foreign correspondents, lifting several restrictions, in October last year.

Under the rules, foreign reporters are allowed to conduct interviews without applications to foreign affairs departments and resident reporters need not renew their press cards annually.

China Daily-Xinhua