BEIJING - China will provide better services for foreign journalists within the existing framework of laws and regulations, said a senior diplomat here on Thursday.

"We will, as always, welcome foreign journalists to report Chinese news from a fair and objective perspective," Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun said at a reception for foreign journalists in Beijing.

He said he appreciated the important role played by foreign journalists in promoting communication between China and other parts of the world.

He pledged the Chinese government would further cooperate with foreign journalists so to improve two-way understanding between China and the rest of the world.

The reception, four days ahead of Chinese Lunar New Year, was hosted by the Foreign Ministry and the Beijing Municipal government.