News exchange and cooperation across the Taiwan Straits will proceed more smoothly after the promulgation of the measures concerning foreign news agencies' release of news and information in China, said a spokesman on Wednesday.

The measures, which went into effect on Sept. 10, will apply to the release of news and information on the mainland by news agencies and similar organizations in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan.

"These measures were formulated and promulgated by the Xinhua News Agency in accordance with relevant regulations of the State Council to promote the dissemination of news and information in a sound and orderly manner," said Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

"The measures protect the rights and interests of relevant parties, including intellectual property rights," Li said at a press conference.

Source: Xinhua