China's cabinet stresses govt openness

BEIJING The State Council, China's cabinet, released a circular on Tuesday urging increased openness in government affairs to ensure officials continue to work in a lawful and efficient manner.

"We should stick to lawful, scientific and democratic policy-making and increase the scope of publicity, especially for major reform plans, policies and projects that are directly related to the people's interests," said the circular, issued by the State Council and the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

The circular stressed that expenditures and budgets for government departments, as well as data on key construction projects, must be publicized in full.