China sees increase in news conferences and release system

China has seen an increase in the number and frequency of news conferences at various levels, supported by a well-structured news release system spanning from central to local governments and enhanced professionalism among spokespersons, scholars and officials said on Saturday.

More than 100 spokespersons from local and state governments and state-owned enterprises under the central government and scholars gathered in Beijing for the 4th China Spokesperson Forum at Renmin University of China, focusing on Improving the spokesperson system and enhancing the effectiveness of news releases.

Mo Gaoyi, director of the State Council Information Office, said in the era of mobile internet and smart interconnection, the media landscape has met profound changes.

It is necessary to conduct in-depth research on social concerns and public opinion trends and identify the connecting points with the interests of people to better meet societal expectations, he said.

Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, stated that in 2024, the ministry held a total of 230 news conferences, with spokespersons answering over 2,500 questions from both Chinese and foreign reporters, which made it the only foreign affairs department in the world to hold a news conference every working day.

As of Wednesday, major international media coverage of the ministry's regular press conferences has surged by 69.6 percent this year, reaching over 25,000 articles, Guo added.

Zhou Qing'an, dean of the School of Journalism and Communication of Tsinghua University, said the news release system in China has gradually matured, and the professionalism of the spokesperson team has continued to improve.

He highlighted the system's adaptability to the all-media communication landscape, particularly in embracing proactive initiatives in new areas like social media and artificial intelligence.