Xinhua News Agency on Saturday authorized four overseas news agencies including Reuters to release news and information in China after they passed an annual assessment, according to the Xinhua management center.

The four agencies are Reuters Asia/Pacific Limited, part of the Reuters Group, JiJi Press of Japan, ET Net Limited of Hong Kong, and NNA China Limited, which is affiliated with iNews Net Asia based in Japan.

The center carries out an annual assessment of the release of news by overseas news agencies or their subsidiaries, based on the Measures for Administering the Release of News and Information in China by Foreign News Agencies, before certifying them.

It was Xinhua's first review of overseas news agencies that release news and information in China since promulgating a set of measures last September.

"Foreign news agencies who operate news services in China should not only abide by the Measures, but also by the basic principles enshrined in the Constitution, laws, and regulations concerning business management, sales, telecommunications, and Internet," said an official with the Xinhua management center.

He said the four approved agencies had submitted "thorough and convincing" materials for the annual assessment in accordance with the Measures and have observed China's laws and regulations in the release of news and information.

According to the State Council and relevant laws, foreign news agencies who want to release news and information in China are subject to approval by Xinhua News Agency, and must have entities designated by Xinhua News Agency act as their agents. Foreign news agencies cannot directly solicit subscriptions to their news and information services in China.

With 22 articles, the Measures aim to promote the dissemination of news and information in China in a sound and orderly manner, according to the center.

The Measures say Xinhua has the right to select the news and information released by foreign news agencies in China and will delete any materials undermining China's national unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity or endangering China's national security, reputation and interests, as well as any false information, or information that disrupts China's economic and social order or undermines its social stability.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2007)