Nine Chinese government departments, including the National
Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Labor and Social
Security, will hold regular press conferences from January
2007.
"They will hold press conferences at a fixed time and place
every month or quarter," said Cai Wu, minister of the State Council
Information Office, at a press conference in Beijing on
Thursday.
The seven other departments are the Ministry of Construction,
Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce, State Forestry
Administration, State Intellectual Property Office, China
Meteorological Administration and China Insurance Regulatory
Commission.
From the beginning of 2006, the Ministry of Education, Ministry
of Public Security and Ministry of Health began to hold press
conferences on a regular basis.
"China has made great progress in the release of information in
2006," said Cai.
To date, 74 departments under the State Council have put the
system in place with 91 spokespersons appointed. China's 31
provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions have all
introduced the system and engaged 52 spokespersons.
Their achievements are particularly remarkable. Cai gave details
showing that since the beginning of 2006 the State Council
Information Office had held 58 press conferences giving journalists
easy access to important information provided by central government
organs and departments under the State Council.
Departments under the State Council and governments of
provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions have held 506 and
757 press conferences respectively. The total number of press
conferences held on the three tiers reached 1,321 in the past
year.
In addition, 40 vice ministers have hosted press conferences
here. This year 59 leading officials of various departments above
the vice-ministerial level, including 12 ministers, hosted such
events.
Cai said more government departments, including the Ministry of
Science and Technology, Ministry of Civil Affairs and Ministry of
Communications, are also preparing to hold regular press briefings
some time next year.
Information of Spokespersons
(Xinhua News Agency December 28, 2006)
