Premier Li Keqiang signed a decree of the State Council on Dec 26, issuing the regulation on government inspections that was passed at the State Council executive meeting on Dec 1.

The regulation will go into effect on Feb 1, 2021.

According to the circular, government inspections in the document refer to governments above county level conducting inspections over their affiliated departments, lower-level governments and affiliated departments, and units with public affairs management functions, over the implementation of major decisions by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, as well as major tasks delivered by the governments, performance of duties, and administrative efficiency.

The State Council General Office guides government inspections across the country, and organizes inspections launched by the State Council, according to the circular.

Governments above county level can designate an affiliated department or send a group to conduct inspections, and the latter should specify the inspection details.

NPC deputies and CPPCC members, government counselors, experts and scholars can be invited to participate.

The methods of inspection include requiring self-checks, hearing reports, interviews and unannounced visits, and organizing symposiums and hearings, the circular stated.

Arbitrarily changing the supervision scope, interfering with the normal work of the inspection targets, conducting repetitive inspections, and inspections beyond authority are prohibited.

If the inspected units have objections to the results, they may apply for review within 30 days from the date of receipt of the results, according to the circular.

Rectifications must be made as required in the results.

Based on inspection or rectification results, inspection bodies may put forward suggestions of praising or criticizing the inspection targets, or making them be held accountable.

As for civil servants who are suspected of corruption, bribery, or other illegal activities or crimes, the information should be transferred to related supervisory or justice organs, the circular stated.