China will have a more open posture and adopt more forceful measures to spread its voice in 2012, as it seeks to obtain increased understanding from the world about its values and development pattern, a senior official said Wednesday.

Wang Chen, head of the State Council Information Office, said China also hopes to seek a better understanding about its national conditions as well as domestic and foreign policies from the international community.

Wang, also deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks at a news briefing during which he elaborated on the work of his office in 2011 and 2012.

By openly providing timely and accurate information, the office presented China's economic, political, cultural and social progress in 2011, Wang said.

In 2011, the office contributed to publicizing the Chinese government's stance and policies, responded to domestic and international concerns pro-actively, and worked to promote China's soft power, he said.

A total of 2,211 press conferences were held in 2011 by central and provincial CPC and government authorities, an increase of 335 over that of 2010, according to Wang.

On behalf of the Chinese government,the Information Office of the State Council published nine white papers in 2011, which gave a clear and precise illustration of China's policies and principles concerning important issues, he said.

The white papers are titled: "China's National Defense in 2010," "China's Foreign Aid," "Sixty Years Since the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet," "China's Peaceful Development," "The Socialist System of Laws with Chinese Characteristics," "New Progress in Development-oriented Poverty Reduction Program for Rural China," "China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change (2011)," "China's Foreign Trade" and "China's Space Activities in 2011."

In terms of bilateral exchanges, the office had a fruitful year in 2011 that was marked by events such as the hosting of ministerial-level forums, workshops for foreign media officials, as well as projects that promoted understanding about Chinese culture, according to Wang.

Internet sector remains open

China's online population had become the largest in the world by 2011, with 513 million netizens since the Internet came to China in 1994.

Segments of the Chinese population have been able to voice their opinions in an unprecedented way in China following the emergence of Twitter-like microblogging services, or weibo, and other social networking sites. The number of microblog users exceeds 300 million in China.

While acknowledging the role of such "new media" in ensuring the public's right to know and supervise, Wang said the development of the Internet has brought problems that can not be overlooked.

Along with the conveniences that the Internet has brought to people's lives and work, the Internet also harbors false information, ill-intentioned hype, pornographic and obscene information, online gambling, as well as online public relations gimmicks, according to Wang.

Strengthening and improving the regulation of online information will ensure that the Internet can develop in a continuous and healthy way, and this conforms to the aspirations and voices of the people, according to the transcript of Wang's remarks that was published on the website www.china.com.cn.

China regulates the Internet according to law, as is common practice in most countries, Wang said.

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