BEIJING - The State Council, China's cabinet, on Friday told government departments to be faster and better in their response to public concerns.

A circular listed major government policy and decisions, emergencies and natural disasters, corruption and other issues as key areas where the public should be kept well-informed.

"Regarding exceptional emergencies, press conferences should be held within 24 hours and responses to other topics should be made within 48 hours," it said, adding information should be regularly updated.

The handling of these issues should entail reporting any rumors that severely harm social order and the national interests to the police or Internet supervisory authorities.

Spokespersons or departmental heads should be present at press briefings, and information should be "accurate, well-founded and pertinent."

Officials responding to public questions should be given a certain level of discretion, and mistakes should be tolerated, the circular said.

Two years will be spent training all the officials in charge of publicity and spokespersons of State Council departments and governments at or above county level.