Premier Li Keqiang has instructed all ministries to make public their responses to motions and proposals raised by the country’s national-level advisers and lawmakers if they are of public interest — in the central government’s latest effort to boost transparency, credibility and efficiency.
The announcement was made in a statement after the State Council held its weekly meeting on Feb 6. China will hold its annual meetings grouping thousands of political advisers and national-level lawmakers next month in Beijing.
Central government ministries last year dealt with 7,437 suggestions from political advisers and 4,672 proposals from lawmakers, which amounted to 86.7 percent of all suggestions and 92.5 percent of proposals, according to information revealed at the meeting. The ideas collected led to about 1,700 new policies and measures in different realms, many touching on issues that people care most about.
Li also asked officials to respond in person, whenever possible, to proposals and motions raised by deputies to the National People’s Congress and members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in a practical way, avoiding bureaucratic replies, the statement said.
Officials’ ability to deal with the suggestions and proposals will be highlighted in their work appraisals to raise the government’s credibility and efficiency, the statement said.
The State Council also decided that the buildup of a transparent, online platform for investment approval across various ministries and governments at all levels should be accelerated to simplify the procedures investors and entrepreneurs need to go through.
To make information more transparent, an “abnormal credit record” and a “credit blacklist” database will be set up to provide express service for people with good credit record and penalize those who have a bad credit history.
This is part of continuous efforts by the central government to streamline administrative approval procedures and delegate powers to lower levels after Li took office in 2013.
The meeting also passed a draft, which will seek approval from the NPC, to temporarily change the laws on land administration and urban real estate administration in pilot areas, where commercial land collectively owned by farmers will enjoy the same rights and price as State-owned commercial land in sale, lease or equity shares.
