China has repeated it will fulfill its commitment of open media policy during the Olympic period.

At a press conference held in Beijing on Thursday, foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said the Chinese government protects the freedom of speech of Chinese citizens and they have the rights to express themselves to foreign media.

"The Chinese government is resolute in enforcing regulations comprehensively and effectively."

The government issued a series of regulations at the end of 2006, stipulating foreign journalists could conduct interviews in China as long as they had consent from the intended interviewees.