Commentary hails new drive on govt reform
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-05 10:36

The People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) carried a commentary Wednesday agitating for support to the new drive on government reform.

The commentary reaches readers together with a resolution by the CPC Central Committee on deepening reform of the administrative system, adopted by the 17th CPC Central Committee at its second plenary session on Feb. 27.

The resolution, titled "Opinions on deepening reform of the administrative system", will be handed over for debate to the First Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), due to open on Wednesday.

The commentary says accelerating reform of the administrative system and building a service-oriented government is a strategic step taken by the party at a time when China's opening-up and reform drive has come to a critical point.

The reform of the administrative system with the transformation of the government's functions as its core task is a fundamental requirement of China's political reform, the commentary says.

The CPC proposal has pointed out problems with the administrative system and also set goals for the political reforms based on a new phase of China's construction of socialist modernization and economic reforms, the commentary says.

The administrative system of China has provided effective support to its economic reforms and opening-up and has met most of the needs of social development, the commentary adds.

On the other hand, it admits that the existing administrative system has also produced some obstacles to deepen the economic reforms and build a more transparent, clean and service-oriented government.

As an important part of China's political reform, the reform of the administrative system must be advanced to cope with new developments in the reform and opening-up drives and the modernization of China, the commentary says.

Deepening government reform is critical to China's efforts to pursue sustainable development, building a clean and responsible government, finding solutions to people's concerns and building a harmonious society, according to the commentary.

The commentary notes that China's rapid economic development, improved living standards of people and the public's urgent demand for administrative reform have created a favorable condition for China's to pursue this reform.

The commentary points out that reform of the administrative system is a complicated systematic job and must be pursued actively and prudently under the leadership of the party while respecting the will of the people.