China’s curbs on foreign press should be eased, says German Foreign Ministry State Secretary Andreas Michaelis
Request for German public broadcaster to be allowed to open office in Beijing and for foreign journalists in China to be able to work freely
A senior German official has expressed concern about limits on foreign correspondents in China, and urged Beijing to allow state-funded German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle to open an office in the Chinese capital.
Foreign Ministry State Secretary Andreas Michaelis emphasised the importance of freedom of speech and freedom of the press as central rights in the German constitution at Monday’s opening of a one-day German-Chinese journalist dialogue in Berlin.
“We are concerned when we hear reports about obstruction of the work of foreign journalists in China,” Michaelis told two dozen Chinese and Western media representatives, and Guo Weimin, vice-minister of China’s Information Office of the State Council.
Michaelis noted that Deutsche Welle had tried unsuccessfully for some time to open an office in Beijing.
“We believe that, as strategic partners, we should use the opportunity to get to know one another better, and to understand each other’s perspectives,” he said.