国内英语新闻:China to launch new round of reform for good governance: scholars

Administrative restructuring, as an important part of political restructuring, has been a major task since China embarked on its reform and opening-up drive in 1978.

China launched the administrative restructuring in 1982, which abolished life tenure at leading posts and reduced the number of departments under the State Council from 100 to 61.

In 1984, China began to separate government functions from enterprise management and enterprises were no longer regarded as "workshops" of the government.

Reform of the administrative system remain a pressing task in a long term, and observers believe it would be further reformed in the coming five years to create a "political system with Chinese characteristics".

Yu Keping has identified five priorities of China's governance reform in the next five years:

-- Building a government under the rule of law. The 15th national congress of the CPC, which was held in 1997, stipulated the rule of law as the goal of political development, which was a milestone of China's political development. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in August that building a government under the rule of law is a "revolutionary change" in the concept and manner of managing state affairs.

-- Building a responsible government. A government endowed with the power shall take responsibilities accordingly. The government shall fulfill its responsibilities and answer to needs of the people.

-- Building a service-oriented government. The government shall provide quality public services and the investment in public services must be increased.

-- Building a transparent government. There will be no clean governance or efficiency without transparency. The disclosure of government information must be fully carried out.

-- Building a clean government. China needs harsher punishments and enhanced supervision to combat corruption.

Yu said "the reform in the five sectors will depend not only on the reform and innovations within the government, but also on the deepening of political restructuring."

"Good government or good governance is difficult to achieve without a sound political system."

"The reform is a very positive and promising signal," remarked Wang Yukai.