BEIJING - China's major religious groups have set up their own news publicity system, the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) announced Tuesday.

Spokesmen for the religious groups will hold non-scheduled and regular press conferences and briefings, as well as provide press releases and initiate online communication with the press and the public, the administration said in a statement.

News of progress and emergencies that occur in religious circles, as well as news pertaining to the major concerns of religious believers and secular people, will also be provided, the statement said.

The establishment of the publicity system aims to promote the transparency of religious groups in order to better serve believers, the statement said.

According to the SARA, all of the selected spokesmen are knowledgable in religious affairs and the administration will hold training sessions to help them improve their skills.