The Chinese government will make more effort to keep the public informed of government affairs, said the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2009-2010) released Monday by the Information Office of China's State Council.
According to the action plan, E-government will be promoted to gradually achieve the goal that governments above the county level and their departments each has a website and most government organs and public institutions each has a hotline.
According to the plan, a comprehensive system ensuring transparency in government affairs will be gradually put in place.
-- Governments at town and township levels shall make public the implementation of relevant state policies regarding rural work, their revenue and expenditure, and their use of various kinds of special funds.
-- Governments at the county or city levels shall mainly publicize plans about local development, the examination and approval of major projects and their execution, government procurement details, the requisition of lands, demolition of houses and so on.
-- Provincial governments shall mainly publicize policies and overall plans for local economic and social development, fiscal budget reports and final account reports, and property transactions.
The action plan said the state will release information on natural disasters, emergencies and production safety accidents in a timely and accurate manner, and in accordance with the law, and publicizes timely the results of investigation and handling of serious or exceptionally serious production safety accidents.
According to the plan, government news release system and the spokesperson system will be improved. The state will make greater efforts to train spokespersons and news release staff, releasing news in various forms, enhancing the quality of press conferences.
(Xinhua News Agency April 13, 2009)