Like Wen, hear people's true voices from Internet
China Daily  Updated: 2005-03-19 05:33

Premier Wen Jiabao's open attitude towards netizens' opinions sets a good example for officials to learn from, an article in the Jiangnan Times says. An excerpt follows:

Premier Wen Jiabao gave a direct response about the role of so-called"netizens" and their voices at the Monday press conference following the end of the annual session of the National People's Congress. Such feedback from the highest echelons of government dismissed online community doubts as to whether its opinions were being heard: Premier is web savvy and hears them loud and clear.

Compared with Wen's innovative work style, the ways that some officials treat public opinions coming from the Internet seem quite narrow-minded. A few of them even take online opinions as mere grievances. These officials do not want to communicate with the netizens or feel it unworthy of serious consideration to stoop to listening to the people's voices. They act like this because they regard themselves superior than grass-roots netizens.

But opinions spread on the Internet are indeed the truest voices of the general public because most netizens are not expressing their ideas for fame or wealth and their words are not polished or embellished. They are among the most original presentations of public opinion and should be seen as precious resources for public administrators to heed and use. Officials should find the Internet a great centre for communicating with the grass-roots community.

A lot of the proposals and motions submitted to the annual sessions of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference are actually about issues that have been discussed by netizens for a long time.

From the "Ten Lessons" summarized by netizens on the development of Xi'an in Shaanxi Province, to the revision of the standards for medical examinations for civil servant recruiting in Hunan Province, there are increasing cases in which online discussions have played an important role in promoting solutions to some social problems.

Officials at all levels should learn from the premier. Listening to opinions from netizens is a great way for the government to better serve the people.

The Internet provides a smooth and convenient channel for expression of public opinions. Our officials should honour these online opinions with an open and liberal heart.

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