Japanese commentator: Media openness improves after China´s reform, openning up

"Gradually, I found more and more stories got my editors interested. By the end of my assignment in 1996, I was not worried any more. Because whatever I wrote, the newspaper would surely use it," he said.

Increased media freedom over the years also made ordinary Chinese more accessible by foreign press, Isogawa said.

"When I was in Beijing to cover the 1990 Asian Games, it was still unusual for an ordinary Chinese to answer questions from a foreign journalist," he recalled.

Isogawa said he remembered there was a time when he interviewed a man in Beijing's Silk Market, people got crowded up and stared at him curiously.

"But now, people are quite familiar with foreign media and they can say whatever they want."

Such media openness is further proved by the media coverage of two major earthquakes, the Tangshan earthquake in 1976 and Wenchuan earthquake in May this year.

"Media reported the Wenchuan earthquake instantly and the Chinese government updated information on the disaster timely and accurately, which is in stark contrast with the situation in 1976."

As to Sino-Japanese relations, Isogawa said reform and opening-up have not only helped Chinese people understand Japan after World War II, it also helped Japanese people know more about a new China.

"I expect China to deepen reforms in every aspects, not only economic reform, but also reforms in legislation, administration and media," he said.

Editor:Du Xiaodan