China's Information Office of the State Council (IOSC) organized 70 press conferences so far this year, the most ever since the news releasing mechanism was set up in China.

To date, 80 spokespersons in more than 70 subordinate departments of the State Council, or the cabinet, release news regularly in China, said Cai Wu, head of the IOSC, at a New Year reception for overseas journalists, diplomats and representatives of international organizations.

Twenty-seven out of 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions have set up their own news releasing mechanisms.

The year 2005 was "a very eventful and fruitful year for journalists working in China," Cai said, citing a series of major events including the successful launch and return of the Shenzhou-6 manned spacecraft and the first meeting between leaders of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese Kuomintang Party (KMT) in 50 years.

Source: Xinhua