"The media catering to overseas audiences should further improve their work and play a bigger role in improving the city's investment environment," Chen said during his visit to the Shanghai Daily and Eastday.com.

He said the media should tailor their contents, programs, design and style according to the demands and tastes of overseas readers and audiences.

"Only by providing quality news and information services can the media help better the communication between the city and the outside world."

Chen toured Shanghai Daily's newsroom and talked to foreign experts and Chinese staff, thanking them for their work.

He praised the newspaper for its comprehensive coverage of social, economic and cultural developments in the city and the Yangtze River Delta area. The Party secretary called on the newspaper to provide better services to the city's growing expatriate community.

(eastday.com July 8, 2003)