Chinese society is opening wider to the outside world. This has been confirmed by worldwide public opinion since the World Health Organization (WHO) lifted its travel advisory against Beijing and removed the city from SARS-affected areas on June 24,though the daily report of the epidemic situation by a news spokesman of the Ministry of Health now no longer appears on TV.

The WHO spoke highly of the outstanding performance of the Chinese Government in the fight against SARS, pointing out that it has honored its commitments and ensured the sharing of information in a prompt and transparent manner.

People have noticed that China is placing greater importance on the release of information through its administrative channels. In June, Shanghai Municipality, which stands in the forefront of China's reform and opening-up drive, established a news release system in various government departments to provide information to the public on a regular basis. Soon afterwards, a similar news release system was set up in the inland province of Henan and in the coastal province of Shandong. Earlier, the Chinese Government promptly reported a submarine accident, and made public the all-round measures for handling it as well.

Observers have commented that the aforementioned steps that were taken in the second quarter of this year were not unexpected. In fact, many earlier accounts from the Chinese leadership continuously transmitted the information that the country had been opening wider and wider to the outside world. The fact that the public acquired extensive information promptly during both the 16th National Party Congress held last year and the sessions of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in spring this year already attracted international attention.

Chinese media covered other incidents that occurred this year in a similarly prompt, comprehensive and detailed way, such as the earthquake in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the explosion at a Tsinghua University canteen and the hostage incident at Reuters' Beijing Branch.

"In essence, these examples of information release and exchange indicate that Chinese society is opening wider to the outside world," said Prof. Yu Guoming from the School of Journalism at the People's University of China.

China is an agricultural country with a history of 5,000 years. Throughout the long-term rule under the feudal system, the people were unable to see the operational process of state power. The country still remained isolated during a period of time after the founding of New China in 1949,owing to blockade by Western powers and other reasons. The period between 1978 (when China introduced reform and opening-up policies) and 2001 (when China entered the World Trade Organization) witnessed ever-wider opening-up of the Chinese economy and society.

Last year, a foreigner was elected a member of a neighborhood committee in Shanghai. This year, the city of Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province invited foreigners to attend its people's congress session as observers. On the eve of May Day this year, a number of foreigners in Beijing and Guangdong Province were cited as model workers.All this indicates an open society in China. Diverse cultures have emerged; works with utterly different artistic styles have been published; controversial opinions can be expressed through various channels; and the public are encouraged to make criticisms and suggestions regarding the work ofgoven1IIlents at all levels. Hunan, native province of the late Chairman Mao Zedong, invited citizen representatives to attend this Year's session of its people's congress as observers and broadcast live on TV and the Internet the whole process of government official appointment and dismissal.

Observers attributed all this to China's rapid socio-economic development, the government's growing experience in administration and continuous improvement in the country's legal system. These features also demonstrate how Chinese society is opening wider and wider to the outside world.