Chinese mainland on Saturday published a new version of reporting regulation for Taiwan journalists.

The revised regulation was released by the State Council's Taiwan Affair's Office, which aims to protect legal interests of visiting Taiwan journalists in the mainland, promote mutual understanding among people across the Taiwan Straits and peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

The 12-article regulation says Taiwan journalists should apply for the travel permit for Taiwan residents to enter and exit the mainland.

Taiwan journalists should ask for permission of the individual or organization they wish to have interview with and bring with press cards for identification check.

According to the regulation, Taiwan journalists could hire mainland assistants through authorized mainland service agencies. They could import, install and use radio-communication devices for reporting need after legal application procedure.

A normal term for reporting in the mainland will be three months and could be extended to a maximum of six months by application, it says.

It also asks Taiwan journalists working in the mainland to obey professional ethics and provide objective, fair stories.

(Xinhua News Agency November 1, 2008)