Journalists' rights group visits China

PARIS, Jan 23 (Reuters) Journalists' rights group Reporters Without Borders has made its first official visit to China for talks on how to improve press freedom in the communist country, RSF said today.

Beijing maintains controls over domestic media, but Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Chinese officials had offered in meetings to let the rights group develop its activities in China.

''These talks mark the start of a dialogue which both parties would like to pursue in a constructive manner,'' RSF said in a statement.

''Government officials said they were ready to reconsider the situation of journalists and Internet users who are currently imprisoned,'' it said.

The government blocks access to many overseas Web sites and domestic news outlets receive instructions on what stories should not reach the public.

RSF head Robert Menard told Reuters by telephone from Beijing his group had handed over a list of prisoners it wanted released, but declined to comment on the number or names.

Menard estimated 31 journalists and 49 ''cyber dissidents'' were in Chinese jails.

''They told us that in the coming weeks there will be concrete gestures,'' said Menard, adding his delegation had met officials from the Information Ministry and the cities of Beijing and Shanghai since arriving on January 17.

''They are sensitive about their image and they are prepared to make concessions,'' he said.

Menard said RSF was looking to set up an office in Beijing.

New rules allowing foreign journalists to report more freely across most of China in the run-up to the 2008 Olympics took effect from the start of 2007, but the rules will expire when the Games end.

Before those rules took force, foreign journalists needed government permission to report outside their home base -- usually Beijing or Shanghai. Under the new rules, they need only the agreement of the person to be interviewed.

Reuters PDS RN0047