SHENZHEN authorities are planning to launch a daily newspaper with a Hongkong partner, government spokesman Mr Huang Xinhua said.
''We are prepared to strengthen exchange and co-operation with overseas news media,'' Mr Huang said yesterday.
If the plan went ahead, it would be the first joint-venture newspaper in China. Mr Huang said the paper would focus on economic news at first.
One of the arrangements under consideration was to set up a separate organisation under the municipal government to take part in the project, he said.
Mr Huang would not confirm speculation he would be appointed head of this organisation.
He said talks were underway with several Hongkong newspapers, but a final decision had yet to be made.
A Hongkong-based conglomerate has recently reached an agreement with a subsidiary of the People's Daily to publish a joint-venture magazine.