From Chinese Press

Officials, reach out to the people

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-03-04 09:14

A noticeable trend before the annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee was central leaders' interaction with the grassroots. On Feb 27, Premier Wen Jiabao's online interaction with netizens covered almost all the hot social issues such as rising housing prices, college graduates' employment and education of migrant workers' children, says an article in People's Daily. Excerpts:

Central government leaders have made it a practice to communicate with the common people. Earlier this year during his dialogue with netizens, Premier Wen emphasized several times the government's determination to solve people's problems and sought their trust.

It is very important to know people's opinions and needs by interacting with them and informing them of the government's plans and policies, and what is lacking in the government's routine work.

Only through mutual trust can social harmony be established and the country and its people have the courage and faith to face difficulties together. The precious trust of the common people in the Communist Party of China during the war years is still its most valuable political resource and spiritual wealth.

But if some officials start pushing people away, how can the people communicate with and trust them? If the common people are not told the truth and the real situation, they may lose trust in the government. Only if the officials speak the truth and tell the people that the government has done its best given the difficulties, will they win the latter's trust.

The NPC and CPPCC sessions both at the national and local levels offer a good chance to the government to communicate with the people more closely, and win their trust and improve the government's credibility. Hopefully, government officials at all levels will go to the grassroots and listen to their voices.