Premier Zhu Calls for Further Government Reform

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, March 05, 2002

Premier Zhu Calls for Further Government Reform

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Premier Zhu Rongji has called for furthering ideological emancipation, shaking off the fetters of the traditional planned economy, and transforming government functions into economic regulation, market supervision, social management and public service.

Zhu made the call Tuesday while delivering the Report on the Work of the Government at the opening meeting of the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC).

Further transforming government functions is needed to adapt to the new situation in the reform and opening up and to build an honest, diligent, pragmatic and efficient government, he noted.

In his report, the premier said that great progress has been made in reforming government institutions and in transforming government functions, but many problems remain to be solved.

Zhu called for clearer division of responsibilities among government departments to prevent cases like shifting one's responsibility to others or having no one to take responsibility. China should conscientiously implement the basic principle of "running the country according to law", perform official duties lawfully and managing the government by high standards, he said.

The government will deepen the reform, reduce the scope of administrative examination and approval, standardize and simplify necessary approval procedures, stress openness and transparency, and clearly define responsibilities.

China will accelerate the utilization of information technology in government administration, and promote electronic-administration to improve work efficiency and exercise more effective supervision, he said.

On the issue of improving the work style of the government, the premier pointed out that there is the need to further fight corruption and build a clean government.

Performing official duties honestly and serving the people are requirements that derive from the fundamental purpose of the Party and the government, as well as basic norms that every government functionary must strictly abide by, he stressed.

Governments at all levels and all cadres must stay honest and clean and abide by the law, he said, stressing that the government will thoroughly investigate and prosecute those who have violated the law and discipline, and abused power for personal gains.

He called for getting rid of formalism and bureaucratism, which harm both the country and the people. No effort should be spared to cut the number of meetings and official papers to a minimum, he noted.

He urged all government officials to initiate investigations and studies, go all the way down to the realities of life and among the people to learn their actual conditions, listen to their opinions, share their weal and woe, and lose no time in solving the problems that they resent or are dissatisfied about.

He called for resolutely checking bad practices, such as false reports to deceive one's superiors or subordinates, misuse of the people's financial resources, and coercion. He urged all officials to speak the truth, do solid work, and stress practical results.

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