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- Xinhua President meets director-general for trade in EU European Commission
Date: 14-Nov-2007 Sources: (Xinhua Online)
BEIJING, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Tian Congming, President of the Xinhua News Agency, met here Tuesday with David O'Sullivan, Director-General for Trade in EU European Commission.
The two sides exchanged views on the regulations governing news and information distribution by foreign news agencies in China, and relevant issues of common concern.
The regulation, entitled 'Measures for Administering the Release of News and Information in China by Foreign News Agencies', came into effect on September 10, 2006.
Tian said China and the European Union enjoyed a fast and comprehensive development of bilateral relations with much common interest and consensus. Xinhua is authorized by the Chinese government to shoulder the responsibility of administration, and the two sides should handle relevant issues based on facts and the comprehensive situation of bilateral relations, he said.
He stressed that foreign news agencies should abide by China's laws and regulations when releasing information in China, and the regulation will continue to be implemented.
In response to O'Sullivan's concern that the regulation has breached World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, Tian said the regulation is in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations, and it is in no breach of either WTO rules or China's WTO commitments.
Foreign news agencies could register their companies and release information in China so long as they abide by relevant laws and regulations, Tian said, adding the regulation also protects the legitimate rights of the foreign agencies from infringement.
He said that a subsidiary company of Xinhua acts as the agent and the practice has been continued since 1996. He said the Chinese government has strict rules on the appointment of agents.
'If there is a more suitable administrative department or the company is found to be irresponsible, its role of agent will be canceled,' he said.
O'Sullivan expressed his appreciation for Tian's introduction of the regulation, saying it will help the two sides to resolve issues of common concern through dialogues based on mutual trust.
He said the EU agrees that China has the rights to administrate foreign companies in China by its own laws and regulations, and any foreign news agencies should abide by Chinese laws and regulations when conducting business.
He hoped the two sides would continue to strengthen dialogues to discuss some details in enforcing the regulation.
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