China ready to enhance communication

Wang Chen, minister of the State Council Information Office, talks to reporters at a New Year's reception in Beijing on Tuesday.ZHANG WEI / CHINA DAILY

A top government spokesman said China is poised to enhance communication with the rest of the world in a more "proactive and comprehensive" manner in the coming year.

China has delivered on the open and timely release of information in the past year, said Wang Chen, minister of the State Council Information Office, on Tuesday in an address to more than 400 representatives from major world news agencies and overseas diplomats stationed in Beijing as well as spokesmen from 60 central agencies.

So far this year, the State Council Information Office has organized 57 news conferences on heated issues including the disputes over the Diaoyu Islands and China's rare earth export policy — a wide range of topics that aimed to let the rest of the world understand China in a "comprehensive" manner, he said.

Next year marks the first year under the new leadership, when documents issued following the 18th Party Congress will be implemented.

As all eyes fall on China, which underwent the leadership transition in November, the minister said he welcomes more foreign reporters who wish to visit China and look deeper into the country.

"China needs to know the world, and the world needs to understand China. I hope foreign friends come and see China for themselves ... and cover China in a more sufficient way," he said, adding that the office is committed to providing service as usual for all journalists.

Foreign reporters said they hope more facilities will be provided to assist their reporting on China in the coming year.

Eric Baculinao, Beijing bureau chief of NBC News Worldwide LLC, said that the past year has been an important year for the US and China, and the next year will mean new challenges for reporters.

"We will do more reporting about China under the new leadership. We hope that there will be more conveniences for us to report on issues that are important for both countries. I look forward to a more productive year in China in terms of news reporting from here, but this will depend on how convenient it will be for us," he said.

Kor Kian Beng, a correspondent with the Singapore-based The Straits Times, said he expects to have more opportunities to attend important conferences and see different parts of China.

Chi Zhang, a producer with Brussels-based VRT Nieuws, has worked in China since 2008, and said he hopes to travel to different parts of the country. He attended a media trip to the Ningxia Hui autonomous region last year and produced a TV program on the Hui ethnic group, local wind power plants and control of the deserts, which was "inspiring and eye-opening".

"Next year we will keep focusing on people's livelihoods, economic development, rural development and anti-corruption. I would like more chances to go to various parts of China for reporting," he said.

Contact the writers at xindingding@chinadaily.com.cn and yangyao@chinadaily.com.cn