Officials called upon to listen to public needs

The State Council must take the lead in meeting the Communist Party of China Central Committee's requirement to promote research and studies, Premier Li Qiang said on Monday, calling for government officials to step out of their offices and interact more at the grassroots.

This is one of the four priorities Li laid out for the new government to improve its capacity at a news conference following the conclusion of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress, during which he was endorsed as premier.

When reaching out to the people, one will likely discover solutions for their work problems that they cannot find sitting in their offices, according to Li. "The brightest minds are among the people," he said.

The government will encourage officials at all levels to engage more with local communities to seek the people's opinions, get to know about their needs, learn from them and help them solve their practical problems, the premier said.

The government will also make concrete efforts to promote law-based administration, Li said.

Stressing that the government must act within the confines of the law, the premier said the country will continue to promote the building of a law-based government, and that civil servants should strengthen their capacity to use law-based thinking and methods to solve problems.

The third priority for the government is to explore innovative ways to perform its duties, according to the premier, who expressed firm opposition to "pointless formality and bureaucratism in all forms".

Governments and civil servants at all levels should be more creative in exercising their authority, especially in the field of approval and regulation, Li said. Instead of simply "slamming on the brake "and "setting up roadblocks", they should also "hit the accelerator "and "put up road signs", he said.

The premier also stressed that the new government will firmly uphold the principle of integrity by "applying stringent standards and requirements in building a clean government and taking a 'zero-tolerance' attitude to all acts of corruption".

All government officials must subject themselves to supervision to truly meet the requirements of being loyal, upright and responsible, Li said.