Information Transparency: China Spokesman Forum held in Beijing

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02:25

An event focusing on China's spokespersons has been held in Beijing. The China Spokesman Forum drew attendees from around the country, including spokesmen and women from central and local governments, representatives of media outlets and academia. Our reporter, Wang Hui, has the details.

Sunday's forum focused on the development and innovation of China's spokesman systems. The participants discussed the system's role in state-governance, national image, and China's economic reform and opening up.

China's spokesman system began with the country's Foreign Ministry in 1983. It has seen a rapid growth, especially in the past 15 years.

LIU XIAOYING, DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISM RESEARCH CENTER AT COMMUNICATION UNIVERSITY OF CHINA "Just like western countries, we aim to communicate with people, and create a transparent government. But we are not serving any administration, we are serving the people."

Beijing has issued regulations on governmental information disclosure, which serve as a legal foundation for the spokesman system. A spokeswoman of the Ministry of Science and Technology says that the system has become more transparent and open.

LYU JING, SPOKESPERSON CHINA'S MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY "We take the initiative to release our information, such as issuing reports on China's development in science and technology every year. We have press briefings on all important news events, and all the information is published on our website, so the entire society can play a supervising role."

SONG SHULI, SPOKESPERSON CHINA'S NATIONAL HEALTH COMMISSION "Transparency is the best cure to clarify misunderstanding. Take organ transplants for example, we organized foreign media outlets to visit local hospitals. They saw the organ donation system, and how they are distributed in person. There is nothing to hide. We want foreign media to come here to see the real China."

WANG HUI BEIJING "The Vice Head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China said Beijing hopes the spokesman can become a bridge to better connect China with the rest of the world, serve as a window to further present the country, and act as a channel to fully and deeply share information about China. Wang Hui, CGTN, Beijing."