Xi calls for 'more tolerance and patience' toward netizens (2)

Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd L), also head of the central Internet security and informatization leading group, presides over a symposium on cyberspace security and informatization in Beijing, capital of China, April 19, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

During the meeting, the 10 representatives gave speeches and held discussions with Xi.

Xie Xinzhou, director of Peking University's School of New Media, said the government should improve its skills in communicating with the public, especially young people, since more people are using smartphones to get information, socialize and entertain themselves, he said.

Zuo Xiaodong, vice-president of the China Information Security Research Institute, told China Daily that the internet is a good platform for government officials to better understand public opinion.

In recent years, many governmental departments have established their own Weibo or WeChat accounts to post information, "but a majority of them are often silent when an emergency occurs or have concerns about saying something wrong," he said.

Some local governmental officials have banned online comments as some netizens challenged their work, which is not sensible or effective for problem solving, said Ning Jiajun, director of the Experts Committee of the State Information Center.

"For online comments, I think, we should govern them with much opener attitude, but for those that harm others or violate laws, we must crack down on them," Ning said.

Highlights of Xi's speech

Government officials:

They should learn to get closer to the public by surfing the internet from time to time to better understand what people are thinking about and what they want.

Netizens:

They deserve more patience and tolerance.

Their constructive advice should be taken.

They should be helped with their difficulties.

Their complaints should be addressed quickly.

Online criticism and supervision:

Online criticism of the government, whether mild or fierce, should be welcomed and taken seriously by the officials on the condition that it is made out of goodwill.