Premier Wen gives online interview at Xinhuanet, Gov't Portal

Profile: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao | Premier Wen's Highlights

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao(R2) speaks while visiting staff members of the Xinhua News Agency website, after his chat with Internet surfers in Beijing, China, Feb. 28, 2009. Wen Jiabao held an online chat with netizens jointly hosted by the central government website (www.gov.cn) and the Xinhua News Agency website (www.xinhuanet.com) on Saturday. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Saturday urged journalists to write "true and accurate" news stories because it is a fundamental principle and a lifeline for the media.

    Wen told a group of Xinhua News Agency staff that Xinhua should take the lead in doing so and carry on its tradition of reporting news accurately, effectively and timely.

    He made the remarks when visiting the office of Xinhua's website (www.xinhuanet.com) in Beijing after his first ever online chat with netizens, which was jointly hosted by the websites of the central government and Xinhua.

    News coverage should help beef up the confidence of the market and the unity of the nation in face of economic difficulty, he said.

    Wen also expressed the wish that Chinese journalists can perform their duty excellently with a strong sense of social responsibility.

Chinese Premier goes online, facing barrage of tough questions with honest heart

    BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao jumped in his first ever online chat on Saturday afternoon, facing questions from nearly 300,000 netizens and mobile phone users ranging from unemployment, wealth gap, social justice to democracy.

    "I don't expect myself to answer every question well, but I am here with a sincere heart and speak honestly," Wen said during the two-hour-long chat jointly run by the central government web site www.gov.cn and the Xinhua News Agency web site www.xinhuanet.com . Full story