IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

A national e-governance work forum was held in Beijing on 12 June. Wen Jiabao, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] Central Committee, premier of the State Council, and leader of the National Leading Group on Informatization, and Huang Ju, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CCP Central Committee and deputy leader of the National Leading Group on Informatization, issued important written instructions.

In his written instruction, Wen Jiabao pointed out that the development of e-governance should be accelerated to boost the reform of the administrative and management system, enhance government work efficiency and public service level, and create conditions for the public to participate in economic and social activities.

In his written instruction, Huang Ju pointed out that strengthening e-governance development is of great importance to spurring government institutions at all levels to reform and improve themselves, enhancing government administrative and management capabilities, raising administrative and operating efficiency, and improving the level of public service. At present, a lot of progress has been made in this work and the effect has initially appeared. All localities and departments should conscientiously implement the central principles, policies, and plans on promoting e-governance, strengthen coordination, do a solid job, advance vigorously, ensure security, and promote coordinated development of e-governance with the national economy and social undertakings.

Zeng Peiyan, member of the Political Bureau of the CCP Central Committee, vice-premier of the State Council, and deputy leader of the National Leading Group on Informatization, attended and spoke at the forum.

Zeng Peiyan said: Since the start of reform and opening up, especially during the 10th Five-Year Plan period, China has attained notable results in the development of e-governance. Party committees, people's congresses, governments, and political consultative conferences at all levels have paid close attention to and vigorously promoted the development of e-governance and, with the constant improvement of the information network infrastructure and the accelerated pace of the application system development, e- governance has played a positive role in strengthening management, transforming functions, enhancing efficiency, and making things convenient for the public. At present, the development of e- governance is still faced with some institutional and mechanistic problems. We must attach close importance to the problems and adopt effective measures to solve them conscientiously.

Zeng Peiyan pointed out: We should, in accordance with the requirement of comprehensively implementing the scientific development concept, intensively implement a series of the central policy decisions and plans on e-governance development and strive to take an e-governance development path with Chinese characteristics. During the 11th Five-Year Programme period, the main objective of e- governance development is to basically set up a unified e- governance network covering the whole country and initially build a mechanism for making public and sharing information resources by 2010. Government web portals should become an important channel for the public to access government information, and more than 50 per cent of administratively approved programmes should be handled on line. E-governance should play a greater role in the aspects of enhancing public service level and supervision capabilities and reducing administrative costs.

Zeng Peiyan stressed: To achieve the aforesaid objective, the key lies in promoting five changes: The first is to shift e-governance from one that values development more than application to one that attaches importance to and deepens application; the second is to shift from decentralized development of information network to integrated utilization of resources; the third is to shift independent operations of the information systems to interconnection and sharing of resources; the fourth is to shift information management from one that lays particular stress on self-service to one that attaches importance to public service; and the fifth is to shift self-development and self-management of information websites to development of social forces.

Zeng Peiyan demanded: At present and for some time to come, in promoting e-governance development, it is necessary to focus on doing well the following seven tasks: The first is to deepen the application of e-governance, further expand the scope and content of open administration, and release government information promptly and accurately. The second is to promote interconnection of the application system and bring into full play the effect of e- governance. The third is to promote information sharing and business synergy and enhance the application level of e-governance. The fourth is to establish a unified e-governance network across the country, make overall planning, and integrate resources. The fifth is to do a good job of the information security and guarantee work and implement the principle of "active prevention and comprehensive precaution." The sixth is to improve the system of laws and regulations and strengthen the training of talented people. The seventh is to establish a benignly operating mechanism conducive to rational development, scientific management, and effective operation and safeguarding of e-governance.

Lastly, Zeng Peiyang stressed that all localities and departments should profoundly understand the importance and urgency of developing e-governance, foster an overall concept, strengthen leadership, coordinate energetically, organize painstakingly, conscientiously implement the central plans on e-governance work, and boost the healthy development of e-governance.

Quelle/Source: Black Enterprise, 13.06.2006