A sign of maturity

As the 11th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) raises the curtain on the country's broadest annual political discourse this afternoon - and the National People's Congress (NPC) to open its 2008 session on Wednesday - we will witness more than just a newer, younger, and more diversified line-up of members.

More impressive to many of us may be the additional transparency.

For the first time, the entire published roster of the 2,237 CPPCC members comes with their title and institutions. The complete CPPCC who's who is posted online, removing the vague layer of mystery that was there for decades.