Premier Wen
Jiabao said on Wednesday that the government will redouble its
anti-graft efforts this year.
At the State Council's third meeting on clean governance, Wen
noted that progress had been made in the fight against corruption
in 2004. This year, the government will focus on establishing a
system that puts equal emphasis on punishment of crooked officials
and prevention of corruption.
Eight major areas have been targeted for improvement in the year
ahead.
Policy-making concerning major issues will be reformed and
improved by incorporating group decision-making, professional
consultation and assessment, public hearings and a responsibility
system.
Administrative licensing will be further reformed.
Administrative permit procedures will be simplified, and existing
regulations will be streamlined and refined.
Reform of the financial management system will accelerate, with
emphasis on budget-based management in government departments. Both
the scope and scale of government procurement will be expanded.
Supervision of government spending will be improved, with
control over major projects and sectors such as transportation and
urban construction strengthened.
Supervision of state assets will also be strengthened,
especially of state-owned financial institutions.
Land acquisition procedures will be strictly enforced and
oversight of land leasing improved.
A responsibility system for administrative law enforcement will
be established to enhance control and clarify officials' rights and
obligations.
Government transparency will be improved to ensure the right of
the people to know what it is doing, especially in such areas as
schools, hospitals, water, electricity and gas supply, and public
transportation.
Work safety must be strengthened to safeguard the lives of the
people, the premier stressed.
In reviewing progress in 2004, Wen cited the payment of land
acquisition compensation to farmers, of salaries in arrears to
construction workers and of resettlement allowances to people
displaced for urban construction.
Advances were also made in enterprise reorganization and
bankruptcy procedures, as well as in revamping and streamlining
administrative licensing.
Wen noted that unreasonable education charges were rectified to
some extent, as were arbitrary fees and taxes imposed on
farmers.
(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2005)