Speaking after talks in Downing Street with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Wen also underlined China's commitment in troubled international hotspots including Afghanistan and Darfur.

Xinhua news agency, the mouthpiece of China's communist regime, issued regulations Sunday forcing all domestic subscribers of foreign news agencies to register through the agency, which can also censor all news coming into China.

Wen said there had been a "misunderstanding" about the new rules, which the foreign ministry has already said are only aimed at protecting intellectual property rights.

"The China government will ensure the freedom and the rights of the foreign news media and foreign financial information agencies operating in China," he said at a joint press conference with Blair.

But he added: "We hope and we trust that these (news media) will also observe Chinese laws and regulations."

Wen was calling on the British leader after arriving in London on Tuesday during his tour of Europe, when he also discussed trade and investment with British business leaders.

Blair visited Beijing in September, where he said China's growing economic power must be matched by improvement in its record on democracy and human rights.

The British PM meanwhile took the opportunity to press his NATO allies to send more troops to Afghanistan.

"NATO is looking at what further requirements there are," he said, referring to a NATO meeting in Brussels looking into options for reinforcements in Afghanistan.

"NATO and NATO countries have got a duty to respond to that.

"It is important that the whole of NATO regards this as their responsibility."

Washington says NATO operations against Afghanistan's formerly ruling Taliban militia were a "critical" part of the war against terrorism and against the Al-Qaeda terror network, which carried out the September 11, 2001 attacks.

But a surge in fighting which has seen more than 90 foreign soldiers killed so far this year prompted the alliance's military chief, US General James Jones, to appeal last week for up to 2,500 reinforcements.

The Chinese premier said Beijing also backs efforts to bring peace to the whole of Afghanistan and wanted to see an independent, strong government in its neighbour.

"We are following closely the situation in Afghanistan. We hope to see stability and a resumption of reconstruction," he said, noting that Beijing was providing humanitarian aid there.

"Afghanistan is still in a very difficult situation. The international community should provide humanitarian assistance to that country. China has already provided humanitarian assistance, and we will continue in the future."

Blair said the pair had had "very frank and open discussions" on topics such as human rights and China's future, calling it refreshing that Wen was prepared to talk candidly.

"That augers very, very well for the future," the British premier said.

"I see China's economic development as an opportunity, not a threat," he added.

After the talks, the pair did not refer to the Iran nuclear crisis, in which China is being pressed to support a threat of United Nations sanctions, or the European Union embargo on arms sales to China.

The Chinese premier's foreign tour, between September 9 and 16, takes in Finland, Britain, Germany and Tajikistan, including the ninth China-European Union summit and the sixth Asia-Europe Meeting in Helsinki.

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