A spokesman for the Foreign Information Administration Center of Xinhua today repudiated the Voice of America, noting that a VOA report distorted facts with ill intentions.

The spokesman reiterated that while handling the business of releasing news and information in China, foreign news agencies will be free from obstacles so long as they abide by Chinese laws and regulations.

He said that in an article published on May 1, VOA claimed that the "Measures for Administering the Release of News and Information in China by Foreign News Agencies" issued by Xinhua News Agency on September 10, 2006 "restrict the development of foreign media", "let fertile water flow into Xinhua News Agency" and "the Foreign Information Administration Center of Xinhua is a commercial institution."

He said, "VOA's claim does not conform to facts at all."

He noted that the Foreign Information Administration Center of Xinhua is a managerial department established by Xinhua News Agency with the authorization of China's State Council and performs government functions. "The center is not a commercial institution at all," he said.

The spokesman said that the purpose of establishing a designated agent department is to standardize the business of releasing news and information by foreign news agencies in China and to provide services and guarantees for foreign news agencies in releasing news and information in China, as well as to render services to their subscribers in China.

"In the course of providing services, this agent department neither shares any profit nor seeks any own interests," he said.

He emphasized that not a single case can prove that Xinhua's administration has caused obstacles to news and information released by foreign news agencies in China.

He added that not a single case can prove that the legitimate interests of foreign news agencies have been damaged because of Xinhua's administration.

On the contrary, a host of facts have proven that following the implementation of the Measures, services provided by Xinhua in all areas have promoted the rapid development in China of the business of foreign news agencies including Reuters and Bloomberg.

The spokesman said that the Measures do not involve news interviews carried out by foreign reporters in China.

Editor: Yan