Handle gripes better: official

Handle gripes better: official

Source: Xinhua | 2009-10-17

THE government needs to better handle complaints to promote social harmony, Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Political Bureau, said at a meeting in Beijing yesterday.

He said the work to take in people's complaints and solve their problems is vital for improving relations between the Party, government and people.

At Party organs and government departments, offices are set up to receive people's letters, calls and visits.

From August to September, the central government sent 16 teams to 26 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities as well as 15 central government departments to inspect work in this field.

Reviewing the reports from the inspection teams, Zhou said problems existed in some localities and fields, and the government's efforts in handling complaints did not meet with people's needs and expectations.

"The decisions made by the government should be scientific, democratic, open and in line with laws so as to prevent new social disputes," he said.

The government should review the risks to social stability when adopting new polices and carrying out reforms, he said.

"Policies, projects and reforms that most people oppose should be stopped or suspended," Zhou said.