Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang said on Tuesday that the new measures concerning the release of news in China by foreign news agencies will not affect reporting by foreign journalists during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Qin made the remarks at a regular press conference when asked to comment on the Measures for Administering the Release of News and Information in China by Foreign News Agencies.

He said the measures are aimed at standardizing the foreign media's distribution of news and information and regulating domestic users' subscription of news and information from the foreign media, promoting the sound and orderly dissemination of news and information, and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of foreign media and domestic users.

Qin said China is an open society and has always taken a welcome attitude towards foreign media and journalists' reporting work in China.

"China will continue to improve its work and provide more service, convenience and help to foreign media and journalists," said Qin, adding that China also hoped foreign media and journalists can observe the laws and regulations of their resident country.

In 1996, the Chinese State Council first authorized Xinhua News Agency, the state news agency of China, to exercise administration over publication in China of economic information by foreign news agencies and their information subsidiaries.

The recent measures are just a "reasonable continuation" of the 1996 administration measures, said Qin.

Source: Xinhua