Li calls for clear and transparent answers

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 Friday.

China will hold its annual meetings of 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 disclosed at the meeting.

The ideas collected led to about 1,700 new policies and measures. 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, the statement said. He said they should do so in a practical way, avoiding bureaucratic replies.

Officials' ability to deal with the suggestions and proposals and improve public services will be highlighted in their work appraisals to raise the government's credibility and efficiency, the statement said. Mo Yuchuan, a professor of constitutional and administrative law at Renmin University of China, said the move would strengthen the NPC's supervision of the government and improve the efficiency of State organs.

Some departments used to give vague replies or just neglect advice and criticism, Mo said.

The requirements would encourage government departments to pay more attention to motions and proposals, although more specific regulations are needed to ensure their implementation, he said.

The State Council also decided to accelerate the construction of the transparent, online platform for investment approval to simplify the procedures that investors and entrepreneurs must go through.

To make information more transparent, an "abnormal credit record" and a "credit blacklist" database will be set up to provide an express service for people with a good credit record and penalize those who have a bad credit history.

The meeting also approved a draft to temporarily change the laws on land administration and urban real estate administration in pilot areas. Under the draft plan, commercial land collectively owned by farmers would enjoy the same rights and pricing as State-owned commercial land in sale, lease or equity shares.

Contact the writers at chenmengwei@chinadaily.com.cn and zhaoshengnan@chinadaily.com.cn