Special report: Reconstruction After Earthquake

      by Xinhua writers Meng Na, Lu Chuanzhong

    BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- China's unprecedented transparency in the publication of information since the massive May 12 earthquake in Sichuan Province has drawn positive response from domestic and international observers alike.

    The openness, however, is not a "forced reaction" in the run up to the August Olympics as some overseas comments suggested. Rather, it is a natural outcome of and consistent with China's ever-deepening reform and opening-up drive.

    Ideological emancipation in China started with the initiation of the reform and opening-up policy three decades ago. Since then, the country has gradually taken a more open attitude towards the outside world and the flow of information, including negative news, has become freer.

    That trend has become more evident in the past few years. The process has accelerated markedly since the 2003 SARS outbreak, when an initial cover-up of the disease led to the sacking of the health minister and the Beijing mayor.

    From then on, the notion of protecting "people's right to know" began to take root in the governing ideology of the Chinese authorities.

    Last October, the concept of "protecting people's right to know, participate, express themselves and scrutinize the government" found its way into the report of the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

    On May 1, the Provisions on the Disclosure of Government Information took effect. This designed to "improve transparency and protect the right to know and public scrutiny of official acts".

    Meanwhile, the authorities have resorted to the information technology in an effort to promote the flow of information. In 2006, the central government's official website, www.gov.cn, was launched. Since November, nationwide, more than 80 percent of local governments above the county level had set up their own official websites.

    At present, nearly all departments of the CPC, State Council ministries and provincial-level governments have established a spokesperson system. Last year, the CPC's "mysterious" discipline watchdog, the Central Committee for Discipline Inspection, opened for the first time to foreign and domestic journalists.

    The country has also been improving the work environment for domestic and foreign journalists and easing restrictions.

    On Jan. 1, 2007, regulations on foreign journalists' reporting activities in China during the Beijing Olympics and preparatory period took effect.

    Under the new rule, foreign journalists no longer have to be accompanied or assisted by a Chinese official when they report in the country. They also no longer need to apply to provincial foreign affairs offices for permission to report in all of the country's provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.

    In addition, when the Law on Emergency Responses was enacted in November, one provision was erased from the final draft, which prohibited media from reporting emergent accidents on its own.

    "As China continues to push forward its opening up drive, I believe the work environment for foreign journalists will get better and better," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang.

    At the Party congress and this year's parliamentary session in March, Chinese and overseas journalists were free as never before in their coverage of the events. By example, they were allowed to observe and raise questions during panel discussions.

    From the second day after the quake struck, the Information Office of the State Council has been regularly holding press conferences and an 80-member international media group was organized to the quake areas.

    After the March 14 Lhasa riot, the office also organized an international media group for a three-day trip to the Tibetan capital. This gave reporters opportunities to see with their own eyes what had happened there.

    When meeting with domestic and foreign reporters at the quake epicenter in Wenchuan recently, Premier Wen Jiabao said China's attitude was open and the country welcomed reporters from the world over to fairly and objectively report on the disaster and rescue efforts.

    "When dealing with emergencies or other problems, our policy of opening up will never change," he promised.

    With the laws, regulations and pledges from the top level, one can expect an even more transparent China underscoring "the right to know" in the days to come.