A regional newspaper editor had his Chinese visitors eating out of his hand.

Journalists from a publication covering a population of 45 million people wanted to know all about the UK newspaper market, its management and developing trends.

And the six-man delegation from the 230,000 circulation Jiangxi Daily were not disappointed on their VIP tour of the Reading Post/getreading offices.

With the aid of a translator, chief editor Ren Xin was treated to information on editorial practices as well as online journalism and the use of social media at the newspaper HQ of the Berkshire town which boasts a population of 155,000.

The Chinese editorial boss was joined by Cai Zhuofan, director of the culture and sports department; Luo Junmin, deputy director of the mass work department; Hu Yongfei, deputy director of the chief editor office; Zhu Xuejun, deputy director of the economics department; and Yin Yong, deputy director of the publishing department.

“The Jiangxi journalists were given a tour of the newsroom and sat in on a news conference,” said Reading Post editor Andy Murrill, pictured centre, who then presented his visitors with a memento – Huntley & Palmers’ famous biscuit tins.

In the last 50 years, the number of newspapers in China has risen from 42 – mainly Communist Party publications – to more than 2,200 today.

And the country leads the likes of India, Japan and the US as the largest market for daily newspapers, approaching 100 million each day.