BEIJING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday issued a set of regulations granting foreign journalists more freedom to report in China in the run-up to and during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

    The regulations will come into force on Jan. 1, 2007, and expire on Oct. 17, 2008.

    Under the regulations, foreign journalists who are non-residents in China would not necessarily have to be accompanied or assisted by a Chinese official when they report in China, said Liu Jianchao, director of the Information Department of Chinese Foreign Ministry.

    He told a press briefing that there had been several changes, comparing the new regulations with the Regulations on the Supervision of Foreign Journalists and Resident Foreign News Organs issued in 1990.

    Under the new regulations, foreign journalists who are non-residents in China will not necessarily have to be accompanied or assisted by a Chinese host institution.

    Foreign journalists also no longer need to apply to provincial foreign affairs offices for permission to report in all provinces of China, but need only obtain prior consent of the organizations or individuals they want to interview, Liu said.

    Meanwhile, foreign journalists may, through organizations providing services to foreign nationals, hire Chinese citizens to assist them in their reporting activities, according to the regulations.

    The new regulations have also simplified the customs procedures for reporting equipment brought by foreign journalists into China by canceling the requirement of an assurance letter provided by a Chinese host institution.

    Liu said the 1990 regulations were still valid and if there were any contradictions between the new and the 1990 regulations, the new regulations should be taken as standard.

    "The Chinese government always sincerely welcomes foreign journalists to carry out reporting activities in China and is willing to provide as many conveniences as possible for them," Liu said.

    Many foreign journalists attending the briefing welcomed the new regulations.

    Masood Sattar Khan, correspondent of the Associated Press of Pakistan in Beijing, said they were a positive gesture by the Chinese government in addressing the concerns of foreign journalists in reporting the Olympics and providing convenience.

    Liu said the Foreign Ministry would maintain close contacts with related departments on the regulations. He also called for foreign journalists to positively coordinate with relevant departments, and contact his office if difficulties arose.

    At present, 606 resident journalists from 319 foreign news organizations of 49 countries work in China. About 3,000 to 5,000 foreign journalists came to China annually in recent years.

    Tens of thousands of foreign journalists are expected to come to China to cover the Olympic Games and the preparatory period.

¡¡¡¡Related: China issues regulations on foreign media's coverage at 2008 Olympics

    BEIJING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- In a decree signed by Premier Wen Jiabao, China on Friday issued a set of regulations on reporting activities in China by foreign journalists during the Beijing Olympic Games and the preparatory period. The following are the full text of the regulations: