The National People's Congress (NPC) has continued to become
more hi-tech this year, once again increasing computer and online
resources for its deputies.
Wider access for the nearly 3,000 national lawmakers to advanced
information services showcases China's fast development in
digitization as well as assisting them in fulfilling their
roles.
At a cost of up to 1 million yuan (US$120,900), the facilities
available to NPC deputies during the 10-day annual session help
them better analyze background information, vital in being able to
make better and more informed decisions.
Wang Guifen, an officer at the Information Service Center of the
General Office of the NPC Standing Committee, said the center has
set up an information service desk in the Great Hall of the People
for the sixth year in a row.
With 40 on-site computers and four printers online, more than 50
people are working on the service desk.
Staff members help NPC deputies print information they need or
copy it onto discs.
They also operate four help lines offering information to NPC
deputies calling from their hotels.
Deputies who have access to the internet can log on to the NPC
website www.npc.cn to search for
information.
"Given our tremendous databank and state-of-the-art technology,
we are able to help NPC deputies find any public information they
want as soon as possible," Wang told China Daily.
Wang, deputy director of the information service desk, was not
exaggerating.
The desk is supported by China's leading information providers,
including the National Bureau of Statistics, State Information
Center, Development Research Center of the State Council and
National Library of China.
Its databank boasts thousands of articles about key topics to be
discussed at the meeting, including the proposed anti-secession
law, economic development, employment and social security.
It also features economic analyses by noted economists,
statistical bulletins for all 31 mainland provinces, autonomous
regions and municipalities, as well as the country's top 500
enterprises.
"We hope our services can help deputies play their supervisory
role better and put forward more valuable suggestions," Wang
said.
Lu Dong, an NPC deputy from Shaanxi
Province, said the information service desk has been really
convenient for lawmakers.
"The figures and documents provided by them enable us to examine
government reports in a more critical way," he said. "That in turn
will ensure NPC deputies help the government formulate the right
development strategy and policy."
In fact, an increasing number of NPC deputies as well as members
of the National Committee of CPPCC, China's top advisory body, have
learned to make good use of the information service.
When the information desk was first set up in 1999 with 10 staff
members, only a small number of NPC deputies and CPPCC members knew
how to use it, Wang said.
Many of those who accessed it just searched for their own
profiles posted on the website out of curiosity, proving that none
of us are immune to 'ego surfing.'
Now, more and more NPC deputies and CPPCC members are bringing
laptop computers with them and their demand for information is
increasing at an expansive rate.
Wang said that last year more than 1,200 NPC deputies and 200
CPPCC members asked for help from the information desk.
(China Daily March 7, 2005)
