China has lifted the ban on foreign publications as the Olympics draws near, which foreigners praise as the country's open manner toward media freedom.

"It offers a chance for us to have various information from overseas, and also helps the Olympic reporting," said Nobuyuki Oguma with Japan's Kyodo News, who stopped to buy Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun at a newsstand at the media village.

About one hundred overseas newspapers and magazines started sale on July 21 at news kiosks located in areas catering to athletes and international media covering the Olympics.

The publications are mainly from the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Some of them, such as the U.S.-based New York Times, The Washington Post and Italy-based La Gazzetta dello Sport first went on sale in China.

Britain's tabloid newspaper The Sun are seen on sale at the media villages and the Main Press Center (MPC).

"It is quite convenient for foreigners to buy overseas newspapers and magazines in hotels, villages as well as the Main Press Center," said Stephen Mccormack, press manager assistant with the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games.

In the MPC news kiosk, manager Yang Xiu told Xinhua that many foreign journalists drop at the kiosk everyday to buy their favorite. Hong Kong's South China Morning Post and the U.S.'s  International Herald Tribune were among the best sellers.

In the Huiyuan Media Village where some 1,000 Chinese and overseas reporters are accommodated, kiosk organizers are aiming for same-day delivery of newspapers.

"Some big news agencies have reserved The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times and USA Today in our kiosk. We deliver the newspapers to the MPC for them everyday," Yang Zheng, manager of the kiosk, said excitedly.

Chinese journalists also show interest in overseas publications. "A Chinese reporter has reserved the August 4 edition of Time Asia magazine, the cover of which features Chinese star Liu Xiang," said Zhang.

Providing foreign newspapers and magazines during the Olympics is an international practice and also part of China's commitment to the Games, according to the China National Publication Import and Export Corp. (CNPIEC).

The CNPIEC signed an agreement with the Beijing Organizing Committee of the 29th Olympic Games to supply foreign publications to the newsstands in Olympic venues and distribute them promptly. All the newsstands will run about 15 hours a day till the Paralympics ends.

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2008)