Foreign Minister Tuomioja brought up China’s restrictions on information dissemination

During his meeting on Monday, 11 September with Li Zhaoxing, Minister of Foreign Affairs of P. R. China, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja brought up the new regulations on the dissemination of information and expressed his concern over their restricting the free spread of information. On the basis of first impressions, Foreign Minister Tuomioja didn’t believe that the new regulations would represent a broader tightening of censorship, but he said that the situation will be followed closely and discussed among the European Union Member States.

“We consider this an unfortunate step backwards,” Tuomioja stated after the meeting. “Naturally we have to see what the regulations mean in practice, but as the Chinese media have been opening up continually, it would be regrettable if this new turn would mean a step backwards and would hamper the work, in particular, of foreign journalists and news agencies,” he continued.

On Sunday China announced new regulations, according to which foreign representatives of the press must acquire a permit from Xinhua News Agency, the official press agency of the government of P. R. China, for the dissemination of news, photos and graphics from China. Tuomioja suspected that the issue may be a question of the economic interests of China’s own news agency more so than the wish of the political leadership.

As was emphasised by Foreign Minister Li, the situation in China must be seen from a comprehensive perspective. Immense economic and social development has taken place during recent decades. “We agree, but we also stressed that citizens’ rights conflict in no way with this development,” Tuomioja said.

“Trade and foreign investment in China have played a remarkable role in China’s opening up process, even though in issues of democracy, human rights and freedom of speech, steps backward are taken now and then. Nor is isolation of China the right path to achieving results. The Chinese are, however, open to discussion,” Tuomioja continued.

Foreign Minister Tuomioja pointed out that human rights are always on the agenda of international negotiations, and their importance is highlighted in various connections. After the September 11 terrorist attack five years ago, he stated, perhaps certain initial control measures were clearly in conflict with basic rights, but the situation has now levelled out.

“In fact, it is now beginning to be understood that continual human rights violations are among the factors that can create and maintain a growth base for radical movements and terrorism,” Tuomioja said.

The foreign ministers also discussed the nuclear programme of Iran. In Tuomioja’s view, it appears possible that the diplomatic efforts of the European Union and others would lead to a result. Tuomioja stated that negotiations would be continued in the next few days, and in about a week we would see whether an outcome could be reached on the basis of the present negotiations.