Note: This is an “ooooold” news actually. However, it is a good step for China ( both for the CMD), isn’t it?
Foreign reporters are allowed to travel throughout the country including Tibet and Sinkiang to interview people and have free reporting without prior official permission during and before the 2008 Olympic games ever since January 1, 2007, one month after the day when China issued a set of regulations on reporting activities in China by foreign journalists. This means China has lifted the old restrictions on foreign journalists. (The full english version text of the regulation see here)
“Foreign journalists no longer need to apply to provincial level of foreign affairs offices for permission to carry out reporting in all provinces of China … but need only to obtain prior consent of the organizations or individuals they want to interview.” Liu Jianchao, the director-general of the Information Department of Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at a press conference in Beijing.
Liu explained in the press conference that foreign journalists who hold valid identity and accreditation cards for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Paralympics can also travel to China visa free.
According to the regulations, foreign journalists are allowed to hire Chinese citizens to assist their work. The foreign journalists can not only report on Games but also “cover politics, science, technology, culture and the economy.”
The regulations stipulate that foreign journalists may bring a reasonable quantity of reporting equipments into China duty free for their own use.
Foreign correspondents in China greeted the news with cautious optimism. Several months later, China Daily news reporters Li Xing and Su Qiang commented that, “The past seven months have witnessed increased coverage of China in the international media,” in an article named “Foreign media enjoy greater access” on Aug. 3 2007 issue. They gave high praise to the “fitting legal framework governing their work in the country.”
In the same article, Liu Jianchao was interviewed and he cited a few cases to illustrate how the government has made efforts to implement the regulations. He mentioned an example of one foreign journalist calling from a village where he said he was stopped by a village leader. “As soon as we received the call, we contacted the local government and enabled the journalist to accomplish his work,” he said.
Although Liu expressed confidence in the implementation of the regulations, he also realised that there would be glitches in the process.
However “glitches” is not the word described by FCCC, the Foreign correspondents Club of China. Their new survey of foreign correspondents in China shows that many feel that they are not given the complete freedom to report and harassment is common despite some improvements. The survey came out also in August 2007.
China will continue to provide an open environment for foreign journalists. But Liu said that it is essential that they establish mutual trust and win the confidence of the Chinese side.
Tags: freedom, journalist, olympic games, regulation
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