(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-04-03 07:28

New working regulations of the State Council are a guarantee for building a transparent, service-oriented and responsible government, says an article in Beijing News. The following is an excerpt.

The State Council recently released "Working Regulations of the State Council" for the newly elected central government. This is a revised edition of the first version that took effect in 2005. The revision shows it is now common practice for State Council to revise its working regulations.

Looking at these new regulations, we find it places more emphasis on transparency, service-orientation and responsibility

The previous edition only mentions openness in government affairs, but the new one devotes a whole chapter to it. It stipulates that decisions made at the plenary or standing committee meetings of the State Council and policies adopted by its various departments should be publicized except for the confidential ones; those affairs that involve the interests of the masses or the need to know by the masses should be made public, and be accurate.

In terms of services, the new regulations stipulate that the State Council should "beef up the capacity of offering basic public services and boost equality". It requires the central government to accelerate employment, adjust income distribution, and improve the social security system.

As for building a responsible government, the regulations stipulate that an assessment should be carried out after its implementation so that problems can be detected and rectified. It requires the State Council and all its departments adopt an accountability and performance management system to regulate procedures, and punish violators.

Transparency, services and responsibility are the nucleus of a modern government. Therefore, the revision of the working regulations shows the determination of the newly elected central government to build a modern administration and bring benefits for the masses.

(China Daily 04/03/2008 page8)