The following are excerpts from the press conference held by the State Council Information Office yesterday:

CNN: We do appreciate all the efforts that you've been making to institutionalize the spokesperson system. I wonder what you tell these ministries to convince them to come out and hold press conferences? Still, I wonder why the Ministry of Defence still does not do so?

Cai: In pushing for the press release and spokesperson system, we've tried our best to tell the ministries and local governments the significance of such a system.

The world is watching China. If we don't take the initiative to release authoritative and correct information, others will speak for us, and what they say will not be correct or complete, or it may be distorted.

As far as I know, the Ministry of Defence and several other key ministries and commissions of the State Council are actively considering setting up such a system. I think it could be done very soon.

Dow Jones: Would foreign journalists be permitted to cover the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, due to be held next year?

Cai: I'll convey such a request as soon as possible. In the past, the newly-elected central leadership met the press at the end of the Congress.

Even if the Congress were not open to the press, I believe we would hold press conferences or arrange for other proper means to address the concerns of foreign media and take your questions.

National Public Radio (of the United States): We would encounter more abundant information about China, some would be sensitive or secrets. How would you advise us to handle more information and observe China's law about secrets?

Cai: There are three (access) restrictions: military zones, traveller-forbidden areas and State secrets.

We have not altered our State Secrecy Law. But information about government affairs that are not State secrets would be released transparently and openly.

China Daily

(China Daily 12/29/2006 page1)