Xu Ning, the first spokesperson of Nanjing municipal government met
local media on October 13. At the news conference, she explained
frankly about the new policies and measures of the construction of
a service government. Her debut won wide acclaim.
Wearing a black suit, with short hair, the government
spokesperson is surrounded by reporters asking questions. Xu Ning
smiles and talks in a friendly manner speaking clearly from start
to finish.
Reporter: Can you tell us something about the development
of resettlement regulations in Nanjing that are currently being
revised?
Xu Ning: Resettlement is of immediate concern to the
people. Therefore, the government gives top priority to carry out
the work in a humane and reasonable way. The newly issued
resettlement regulation draft has been submitted to relevant
experts and institutions for comment eight times and has solicited
suggestions from the municipal people's congress as well as the
political consultative conference. Next, it will be handed over to
the mayor's general office and other higher institutions to solicit
comments fully from various forums and discussions participated by
people from all walks of life. Closely following national and
provincial relevant regulations, the new law will firmly protect
the rights of resettled residents.
Reporter: Recently, Nanjing issued a document in which it
stipulated that employees have the right to invest in and buy
shares of various enterprises except for foreign companies. What
kind of people enjoy this right?
Xu Ning: In the past, only three kinds of people were
allowed to invest and buy shares in Nanjing. They were the
unemployed, such as farmers; urban laid-off and retired people;
employees without any administrative institutions. While the new
policies provided several suggestions on further improving an
investment environment, Nanjing has loosened its investment
restrictions and expanded their scope. It stipulates that despite
those who are forbidden to engage in business management, employees
may invest and become shareholders in varied enterprises except for
foreign-funded ones. Civil servants are the exception.
Reporter: The provisional rule on ascertaining
responsibility of administration faults has been implemented for
one year. What's the difference between it and similar regulations
in other countries?
Xu Ning: When working out the rule, the government drew
on experiences from other countries in this regard. Generally, we
made it in light of the reality in China as well as in Nanjing. The
focus here is on disposing of problems of negligence of duty and
the overstepping the authority of officials.
Reporter: When confronting unexpected incidents and
sensitive questions, can you release news speedily and objectively
instead of stalling reporters?
Xu Ning: My work is establishing a fast, efficient and
accurate information channel between the government and the people
and letting ordinary people enjoy their right to know the truth. I
will first publish the government attitude and disperse comment to
the public and update news on the government website as well.
Shen Jian, secretary general of Nanjing municipal government
briefed the background and responsibility of the first spokesperson
at the news conference. He noted that improving the spokesperson
system was to enable better communication with the media and the
public as well as further opening government affairs.
Nanjing municipal government stipulated in its working
regulations issued April 25 last year that the government had set
up a spokesperson system and invited news reporters to attend
regular government meetings. After Jiang Hongkun was appointed
acting mayor of Nanjing, many times he urged further improving the
government spokesperson system and enhancing the frequency and
efficiency of news releasing systems. During the past one and a
half years, the government has maintained fine communication with
the press and public by releasing important government information
via the news media.
Shen Jian said that Nanjing, a well-known city in China and the
world, is a place with many developed media institutions. In order
to build a more open and transparent information environment and
publicize more government working affairs in time, Nanjing has set
up a spokesperson system and selected Xu Ning, vice director of the
government general office to be its first spokesperson.
Apart from regular news conferences, the spokesperson will
express government opinion and responses to unexpected incidents,
matters of consequence, centers of public attention and relevant
news by holding immediate press conferences. In addition, the
government will invite the media to occasional news meetings and
press conferences and receive interviews. The government will also
offer regular and well-timed news services by updating news on its
website.
Xu Ning's profile
Xu Ning, born in 1966, is a graduate of
Nanjing Normal
University, with a BA in Chinese. After graduation, Xu taught
in Nanjing school for teachers of preschool children. Afterwards,
she transferred to the municipal committee. In 2001, she served as
vice secretary and spokesperson of the Nanjing Medicine Inspection
and Administration Bureau. Now, she is vice director of the
government general office.
As for her debut at the news conference, Xu only gives herself a
pass grade. On talking of her feeling about being a spokesperson,
she said that it was a colossal responsibility. On the one hand,
the people and the media hold high expectations for the
transparency of government information and have urgent requirements
for its services. On the other hand, the media plays a very
important role in the reform, development and stability of Nanjing
city. Therefore, there is much government work and information
needed in the public arena. People have the right to know the truth
and it's conducive for them to supervise government work in this
way. "I will try my best to fulfill my responsibility and release
government information accurately, timely and objectively," she
said.
(China.org.cn by Lixiao October 29, 2003)
