News

Govt that responds to people's basic needs

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-03-05 07:37

Jiangsu government needs to build a service-oriented government through reforms and innovation to safeguard citizens' interests, Luo Zhijun, the province's Party secretary, said.

"Government needs to change and focus on public service and administration," Luo told the 11th Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress delegates.

Luo said they need to increase government efficiency in serving the people and making society just. It should be more transparent by getting out enough information to the public through various means, he added.

"Anything that affects people's interests directly should be open to society to improve the executive branches' ability to govern and its credibility, at all levels."

Luo also stressed the need for the administration to improve its ability to act in accordance with the law to protect the rights of the common folk, especially the disadvantaged and those living in poverty.

At the same time, there needs to be more oversight of government functions, Luo said. It should agree to People's Congress supervision, and that of the People's Political Consultative Conference, the judicial system, and public opinion as well.

Luo emphasized that changing the spirit of government officials and workers is vital to this, along with a job responsibility system.

"We really need to teach government employees to pursue the truth and implement major central and provincial Party committee decisions faithfully," he said.

"We also need to go back down to the grassroots level to listen to people's voices and do our best to solve the problems they worry most about."

Luo has asked government officials to spend more time researching these tasks, digging deeper, to handle them in a practical way.

Corruption is another area the Party chief touched on, vowing to increase the crack-down on corruption and corrupt officials.

The government plans to put a halt to the building of luxury offices, cut spending on official receptions, and control the use of government vehicles more tightly.

Such activities as ceremonies, festivals, and forums will be kept to a minimum in the future.

And, the use of public funds for private travel abroad is strictly forbidden.

Luo urged government employees at all levels to be frugal in the use of public funds and to be economical in every way.

"We should use whatever funds and resources we have to improve people's lives and create the image of a clean government of the people," Luo said.

(China Daily 03/05/2011 page10)