Beijing clears way for media listings

Beijing is allowing publishers and newspapers to list and issue shares on domestic and overseas exchanges, said Liu Binjie, the head of the General Administration of Press and Publication, the Financial Times reported. Liu's remarks, made on the sidelines of the 17th party congress, suggested renewed official enthusiasm for faster commercialization of the media, a topic of heated debate in recent years. Liaoning Publishing Group will be the first to list in two months, followed by an estimated 13 publishing groups, Liu said. Authorities are now pushing for public share issues by news websites such as Xinhuanet and People's Daily Online.