China's top judge said in Beijing on January 27 that the courts in the country will strongly support news organizations and journalists in playing their social supervisory role and protect their legitimate rights.

In China both courts and the media are working for the rule of law, and they should support and cooperate with each other, said Xiao Yang, president of the Supreme People's Court, at a meeting with executives of the country's leading news organizations based in Beijing.

Xiao promised that the courts will facilitate journalists in their covering of court proceedings and protection their legitimate rights when they are framed or even assaulted. In cases when news organizations are sued by those involved news stories, courts will try to resort to mediation to legitimately protect the reputation of the news organizations concerned.

Xiao said he is willing to improve information exchanges with news organizations.