By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: October 17, 2008
BEIJING (AP) — China said Friday that an easing of restrictions on foreign journalists enacted for the Olympics would become permanent.
Prime Minister Wen Jiabao signed the new decree, which took effect immediately, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said late Friday at a news conference.
Under the rules, foreign reporters do not need government permission to travel within China or to interview its citizens.
“This is not only a big step forward for China in opening up to the outside world, it is also a big step for further facilitating reporting activities by foreign journalists,” said the spokesman, Liu Jianchao. Journalists will still not be allowed to travel to Tibet and other restricted areas without special permission, Mr. Liu said.
China had loosened its controls on foreign reporters, which included requiring government permission for all interviews and travel, in 2007, a move that helped its bid to host the 2008 Olympics.
The new rules replace regulations on foreign news media coverage established in 1990, a year after the crackdown on democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square. China’s tight grip over domestic journalists remains unchanged.
