Respecting public opinion

We have heard plenty about chief administrators communicating with people via the Internet. Many a local magistrate has given it a shot after President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao spoke to netizens on the Web.

Those in Bozhou, Anhui province, however, have taken an even more adventurous step - they admitted three online commentators into the local branch of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Like other members of the local political advisory body, the three have been through strict examinations of their background before being accepted. They were chosen because they have been dedicated observers and commentators of local affairs. And they are popular leaders of opinion in virtual space.