(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-01-03 16:46

 

A public hearing on whether to restart construction of the PX plant is held in Xinmen, December 13, 2007. [Xinhua]

Currently, more than 80 percent of county-level governments have set up websites. China central government launched its website in 2006. The websites aim to provides information on government affairs, online services and interactive communication between governments and citizens.

In addition, a decree on the release of government regulation, which is to take effect on May 1 this year, will boost official transparency by ordering government departments to be more open in reporting information. encouraging the release of government information,

Governments at various levels are required to release information  which "affects the immediate interests of individuals and groups" or which "should be known by the masses", within 20 working days, the regulation says.

Li Lulu, director of the social science department of the Beijing-based Renmin university of China, said "One of the most important foundation of social harmony is respect for the citizens' rights while individual's relatively independent pursue on livelihood, interests and wills constitutes the basis of citizen's rights."

"Thus, the people's rights to be informed, to participate, to be heard, and to oversee must be guaranteed," Li noted.

Despite the progresses made, citizen's participation in political affairs remains restrained by many elements, the official People's Daily said on Wednesday.

"Forms and channels for participation need to be expanded and laws and relevant regulations must be compiled to specify and safeguard the citizen's right," the paper said.

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