Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao promised on Tuesday that the country would protect foreign media's rights on news reporting in China in line with the law in an effort to assure the smooth flow of the economic and financial information.

    During a banquet held by the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) in London, the premier stressed that China would stick to the policy of opening-up to the outside world. The country would, as always, protect the legitimate rights of both overseas enterprises and news media.

    His remarks came as the Xinhua News Agency released a set of rules regulating news release in China by foreign news agencies.

    According to the new measures, foreign news agencies will need approval from Xinhua to release news and information in China, and entities designated by Xinhua News Agency will act as their agents dealing with subscribers.

    On the issue of trade balance between China and Britain, the premier told reporters that China put great importance to bilateral trade between the two countries, and China would never pursue a trade surplus.

    He expressed his hope that Britain could ease its export restrictions on China, allow more British products, especially those high-tech products to enter the Chinese market.

    Premier Wen is on an 21-hour visit to Britain after taking part in the sixth Asia-Europe Summit in Helsinki. He is expected to meet the British Prime Minister Tony Blair later on Tuesday.

    The premier will also visit Germany and central Asia's Tajikistan, where he will take part in the fifth Meeting of Prime Ministers of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.