Snapshot of public concerns

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Voting rallies support for policy

Unlike the legislative body, the State Council as the executive branch of central government used to make closed-door decisions and seldom canvassed public opinions when drafting policy. The move to evaluate policies online will grant the public a bigger say in policies that concern their daily lives, because it will help the decision-making body know the real opinions of the people. Some worry it might lower efficiency, but the move is worth it.

sina.com, Dec 8

Five online voters (each from QQ and Sina micro blogs), randomly selected, will participate in a meeting held in the central government offices in Beijing, which is a rare opportunity for ordinary persons. In the past, only very famous scholars or entrepreneurs like Jack Ma, or renowned "ordinary persons" that did excellent jobs, were ever invited to enter Zhongnanhai, or the central government headquarters.

Beijing Youth Daily, Dec 9

China has a netizen population of 600 million and the Internet is becoming an increasingly important channel for ordinary citizens' political participation. The new move of the State Council is a great step forward, and we expect it to take more innovative measures such as asking people's opinion in the process of drafting public policies, which is more effective than evaluation afterward.

Xia Xueluan, professor at Peking University, Beijing News, Dec 9

By promoting transparent governance, as the move does, the authorities will not only prevent grave errors in making policies, but also rally more public support because the public understands deeper about policies in the process. Hope more online hearings are held.

Mai Shangwen, an associate professor of journalism studies at Guangzhou-based Jinan University, Nanfang Daily, Dec 9

A majority of the policies listed in the voting are being implemented, among which are promoting supervision over public funds, improving social welfare and building clean government. Some other measures, such as curbing environmental pollution and accelerating urbanization lag behind, but we are confident about their final success because they are heading in the right direction.

Nanqingxiake, via sina micro blog