At a press conference in Beijing on January 18, Wang Chen, Minister of the State Council Information Office (SCIO), gave a comprehensive account of the SCIO's achievements in 2011. More than 100 Chinese and foreign journalists attended the event. The SCIO released spokesperson directories of the departments of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), State Council departments, CPC committees and governments of China's provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities and the CPC Committee of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

Spreading China's voice

In 2011, the SCIO held 78 press conferences. The departments of the CPC Central Committee and State Council held 626 press conferences. The CPC committees and governments of China's provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities held 1,507 press conferences, an increase of 335 over the previous year. The SCIO released nine white papers including China's Peaceful Development, more than in any previous year.

In 2011, the SCIO presented China's economic, political, cultural and social developments in keeping with the principles of timeliness, accuracy, openness and transparency, Wang said. It clarified the Chinese Government's positions and policies, while proactively responding to domestic and international concerns, he added.

China has been committed to putting in place a government information service system since the 16th CPC National Congress in 2002. This program has proceeded smoothly in general over the past decade, Wang said. In 2011, CPC committees also appointed spokespersons to meet various information demands.

Experience in the past 10 years shows information services are not limited to the release of information and the presentation of a department's achievements. More importantly, they aim to promote the openness of CPC and government affairs to ensure people's right to information, right to participation, right of expression and right of supervision. As part of China's efforts to promote socialist democracy and political restructuring, information services can also help improve the images of the CPC and the government, Wang said.

Presenting Chinese culture

The SCIO produced two promotional videos on China and aired them overseas in 2011. They presented China to the rest of the world from multiple perspectives and dimensions. The SCIO also helped make Chinese culture more popular worldwide by sponsoring the translation and publishing of Chinese books for international readers. By the end of 2011, more than 6,100 titles such as The Analects, A Dream of Red Mansions and A History of Chinese Civilization had been published with government sponsorship. The SCIO also staged "Experience China" events aimed at bolstering China's image overseas in India, Indonesia, Austria, Russia and Germany.

Addressing concerns

Given the unsatisfactory performance of some government spokespersons during emergencies last year, there have been questions about whether bottlenecks have hindered the development of China's government spokesperson system.

It is true that some spokespersons dare not, are unwilling to or are incompetent to address public concerns, Wang said. Some of them even go as far as touting achievements without dwelling upon problems. The SCIO will provide professional training to spokespersons while seeking to solve underlying problems in the spokesperson system, Wang said.

Spokespersons should be important members of emergency response teams, Wang said. Information collection and release should be incorporated into emergency response plans. In time of sensitive events, in particular, spokespersons should be on the spot so that they can have timely access to information and respond to public concerns accurately.

Regulating cyberspace

In line with its opening-up policy, China offers a fully open environment for the development of the Internet, Wang said, adding that investment climate in China's Internet industry is attractive.

Since China adopted the reform and opening-up policy more than 30 years ago, especially since its entry into the World Trade Organization a decade ago, many foreign Internet firms have established a presence in China to join the country in boosting the growth of the Internet industry. China also takes an active part in international exchanges and cooperation in this burgeoning industry. At SCIO-sponsored events such as the China-U.S. Internet Industry Forum and the China-UK Internet Roundtable, Chinese Internet professionals exchange views with their foreign counterparts and share with them advances in science and technology.

Like most other countries including developed ones, China administers the Internet according to law, Wang said. Chinese laws on the Internet are open and transparent. They aim to safeguard state information security, serve the people's fundamental interests and promote the prosperity of the Internet industry.

China carries out Internet administration based on laws and in keeping with international practices, Wang said. Many countries deal with illegal information through legislation, industry self-discipline as well as technical methods, he added.

While unswervingly sticking to its opening-up policy, China is willing to participate in international exchanges and dialogues on Internet development to chart the course for the industry's future along with other countries, Wang said.