Premier Wen Jiabao has called on the government to build an innovative
administration, saying it is the major task for restructuring administrative
management and a major part of the country's economic and political
restructuring.
Chinese Primier Wen Jiabao
delivers a speech at a national television meeting of the State Council
held in Beijing, capital of China on July 26, 2006. The State Council held
the meeting Wednesday on Chinese economic situation of the first half of
the year, and the plan for the economic work in the latter half. [Xinhua]
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Wen, who is also member of the Standing
Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political
Bureau, made the remarks in his key-note speech delivered at a national
teleconference on accelerating government reform on September 4.
According to the premier, since the convening in 2002 of the 16th Party
Congress, the government has adopted a series of measures to boost the
government's own reform.
This included amending the Rules for the Work of the State Council, which
feature the three fundamental principles of scientific and democratic
decision-making, administration by law, and administrative supervision.
The government has focused on strengthening its ability to handle societal
issues, provide better public service and establishing a mechanism for handling
emergencies.
The government has pushed forward the reform of administrative approvals; set
the goal and requirements for building a government ruled by law; implemented
the Law on Public Servants, and increased efforts to fight corruption.
In his speech, the premier stressed the importance of changing how the
government functions in a substantive way, saying it is key for deepening the
restructuring and strengthening of administrative management.
He admitted, however, that many problems still exist even though "we have
done a lot of work to change in the aspect of changing government function over
the past years," he said.
The premier said that the government has been involved in many things that
are not related to the function of government or are out of the scope of
government. He pledged to continue pushing forward the separation of government
and business.
While practicing its functions of economic readjustment and market
supervision, the government should strengthen its public service, he said.
He called for deepening the fight against corruption and building a clean
government, to ensure that government powers will not be misused. "The nature of
corruption is misuse of public powers," he emphasized.
"Government workers must work for the interests of the people with the powers
granted by the people," he said, "Using power for self interests is absolutely
prohibited."
As of the end of June, the authorities had handled a total of 6,972 cases
involving business-related bribes, worth 1.96 billion yuan (245 million US
dollars). A number of offenders involved in these cases have been punished.
He asked for more breakthroughs in uncovering bribes in the fields of
infrastructure projects, transfer of land, trade in property, medical purchase
and sale, government procurement, and exploration and trade of resources, as
well as monopolized industries.
"Fundamentally, the prevention of misuse of powers depends on the reform and
the system," he stressed, highlighting the importance of perfecting the system
to prevent corruption.
He called for displaying democracy and stepping up supervision. "Lack of
efficient supervision and control certainly leads to corruption," he concluded.
He also advocated the transparency of government work, making it convenient
for the people to handle affairs and supervise the government. "Transparency of
government work will improve the efficiency of the government and prevent
corruption," he said.
Increasing administrative efficiency helps increasing the government's
capabilities and credibility, Wen said. He criticized some local governments for
failing to implement orders from higher authorities and for losing credibility
when they violate laws and regulations.
He pledged to adhere to the principles of scientific and democratic
decision-making, in order to enhance the level of decision-making and safeguard
social justice.
The government will set up an appraisal system for government officials,
under which leading government officials of different levels will be examined on
the results of their work, in accordance with criteria that have been
scientifically developed.
To build a responsible government means that leading officials must be
investigated when they are accused of wrong doings and wrong doings of
government must be corrected, said the premier.
