BEIJING - With a style distinctly different from the twice-weekly formal news briefings, the Foreign Ministry is now turning to a micro blog to spread its messages.

Operated by the news department of the Foreign Ministry under the username of waijiaoxiaolingtong, which means "a well-informed person of foreign affairs", the micro blog has so far attracted more than 40,000 followers since its debut on April 13.

The username appears to have been verified by the web portal Sina.com, host of the micro blog site. A V-shaped symbol next to the username means the owner's identity has been checked.

Waijiaoxiaolingtong has so far submitted 36 micro blog posts. Unlike the routine news briefings, which take place at the Foreign Ministry, the micro blog includes a more diversified range of topics such as travel information, press anecdotes, historical facts and other information. Its language is also more personal and lively, sometimes accompanied with photos and smiles.

According to the Beijing News, waijiaoxiaolingtong is the first of its kind in ministerial-level departments of the Chinese government. However a China Daily inquiry to the ministry regarding the identity of the micro blog was not confirmed on Tuesday.

The Beijing News quoted an unnamed ministry official as saying that the micro blog, currently on a trial run, mainly focuses on lively issues, providing information and knowledge of selective topics. The official said it has not been determined whether the micro blog's content would be expanded.

Since micro-blogging became the new Internet frenzy in 2010, many provincial government departments in China have given it a try. According to the Beijing News, local governments in Sichuan, Yunnan and Zhejiang provinces were some of the first to launch micro blog sites.

China Daily

(China Daily 04/20/2011 page11)