Working for the public good

New leadership's example in reducing bureaucracy and extravagance is a welcome response to people's concerns

The eight measures put forward by the newly elected leadership of China, aimed at improving the Party's working style, display the new leadership's determination to cut extravagance and bureaucracy and bring leaders closer to the people.

According to the measures, officials should reject extravagance and reduce bureaucratic visits and meetings, the spending on officials' trips and inspections should be kept at the minimum necessary level, and there should be fewer traffic restrictions arranged for their security during official trips to avoid unnecessary inconvenience to the public. The measures also cut the number of people escorting leaders on official visits, eliminate elaborate welcoming ceremonies, regulate the arrangements of national official meetings and major events, and require improved efficiency for official conferences and the issuing of official documents.