Vice-premiers told to attend hearings

Vice-premiers and state councilors must be present at committee hearings on special issues under a regulation issued recently by the National People's Congress.

The NPC has stepped up its efforts to improve committee hearings to oversee government work. One or two vice-premiers and state councilors are required to attend the hearings to answer questions from NPC deputies.

Fu Wenjie, an official at the NPC's general office, said the regulation is intended to improve the efficiency of hearings and create a formal system of regular hearings in the next few years.