China will further integrate government information systems and enable more information disclosure on the allocation of public resources, according to a decision made at the State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Dec 6.
The government will work to consolidate and integrate the national data sharing and exchange platform to enable connectivity across networks, data and administrative services, those at the meeting decided. This move is part of the government’s effort to streamline administration, enhance compliance oversight and provide better services, with the aim of delivering greater benefits to the public with easier and faster access to administrative services.
Chinese leaders have stressed on multiple occasions the importance of integration, sharing and disclosure in the running of government information systems.
President Xi Jinping said that the integration of information resources should be pushed forward to break information silos and develop a national information resources sharing system.
Premier Li said that the integration and sharing of government information systems should be accelerated to deliver better administrative services.
According to a decision at the meeting, the content and modality of data sharing across State Council departments will be clearly defined to ensure public access to information that can be released.
The 40 vertical information systems run by the State Council bodies will be made open to governments at various levels by the end of this year, which will enable the sharing of service information on some 500 data items, including the identity verification of natural persons and enterprises, tax payment certificate, real estate registration, and degree/diploma certification. The government will encourage multi-purpose service stations to raise efficiency and cut the legwork for the public and businesses seeking government services from different departments.
The security of information sharing also will be a priority, with measures set to be introduced to enhance the security management system and risk assessment.
In the establishment of any new government information system, sharing shall be a guiding principle to prevent duplication and new information silos. The government also will step up technical safeguards for such public infrastructure as the National E-Government Network and the national data sharing and exchange platform.
“We should use the integration of government information systems to achieve connectivity of data and government services, and break the barriers to our reform to streamline administration, enhance compliance oversight and provide better services. Such integration will also help spur social creativity, foster a more favorable business environment and bring greater conveniences to our people. This effort meets the public expectation and will help strike a proper balance between the government and the market,” the Premier said.
A new guideline, which specifies a set of requirements for government information disclosure on the allocation of public resources, also was approved at the meeting.
The guideline, issued as part of the plan by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council to push forward government information disclosure comprehensively, has identified a number of key areas for information disclosure, including housing, transfer of state-owned land use rights, transfer of mining rights, government procurement, transaction of state-owned property rights and tendering of engineering construction projects.
Information disclosure in these areas will be conducted through government portal sites, mobile internet platforms, or the press by the competent government departments or the state bodies, government-affiliated institutions or enterprises that undertake the allocation of these public resources.
“More transparency in the allocation of public resources can help reduce corruption and unfair distribution. It can also lower costs, raise efficiency and enhance government credibility,” Premier Li said. The use of high and new technology should be prioritized in integrating government information systems and releasing government information on public resources allocation on the basis of ensuring information security, he added.
