Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met with senior executives of Australian press and visited Australian Broadcasting Corporation ( ABC) here Monday.

After listening to the briefings made by Mark Scott, managing director of ABC, Li said that the media has played an increasingly important role in shaping the public awareness by providing information.

"We hope you, as an influential news organization, can tell the Australian audience about a real China," he said, adding that the media should report China in a "comprehensive, well-balanced, fair and objective manner".

"We don't hope you agree on our views but we hope you report the facts," he said.

After highly speaking of the growth of bilateral ties in political, economic and people-to-people fields, Li said he hoped the media from China and Australia can continue their efforts to push forward bilateral ties and increase understanding between the two peoples.

Li also briefed on the stance of the Chinese government on the Tibet issue.

Scott agreed to "provide full range of views" about China for its audience.

During his stay, Li also met with ABC Chairman Maurice Newman and Channel 7 Chairman Kerry Stokes.

Li arrived in Australia last Friday. Australia is the first leg of Li's four-nation tour which will also take him to Myanmar, Republic of Korea and Japan.

(Xinhua News Agency March 23, 2009)