Root Out Barriers and Build A Bridge Between the Government and the Public


Chang Zhi Municipality, a city in north China's Shan'xi Province, started distributing name cards with the mayor's phone number in September to improve communication between the government and its people.

The Beijing News published an article arguing that the move isn't cost effective. It suggests the government to first reduce obstructions to public opinion instead.

The paper says that in China, representatives of the National People's Congress are elected by local residents and regarded as a bridge between the public and local government. They should be the first point of help for the public and be easy to contact.

Government departments offer another opportunity for people to express their opinions, and the public can convey their opinions to specific departments directly.

The paper concludes it's impossible for a mayor to deal with all the opinions. More importantly, the municipal government should adopt a series of measures to remove obstacles of communication to ensure opinions are heard.