Chinese Premier says gov't preparing for officials to declare assets_English

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao holds an online chat with netizens jointly hosted by the central government website and Xinhua website in Beijing, China, Feb. 28, 2009. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
Photo Gallery>>>

BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Saturday the government is making "active preparations" for officials to declare their assets amid efforts to combat corruption.

Wen made the remarks while hosting his first-ever online chat with the netizens.

"We need to promote transparency of government affairs and also need to make public officials' assets," he said.

"Such a declaration system must be established and carried out so as to produce substantial results," he said. "It should be a major move to fight against corruption."

Wen said the most important thing in combating corruption is to establish a good system that can prevent power from being too centralized without restriction.

"Only power is restricted can corruption be prevented fundamentally," he added.

Earlier this month, authorities in Altay Prefecture in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region publicly released a list of the assets of more than 1,000 current and retired officials.

It was hailed as forerunner in the country's declaration system of officials' assets.

Also Saturday, China's top legislature approved a number of criminal law amendments including anti-graft moves.

A new amendment bans relatives of or people who have close relations with government employees from conducting corrupt deals between the employee and bribe-givers.

Offenders in "very serious cases" could face a minimum jail term of seven years, according to the amendment. Proposed punishments also include fines and confiscation of personal property.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao prepares to chat with Internet surfers on two state news portals in Beijing, China, Feb. 28, 2009. (Xinhua Photo)
Photo Gallery>>>

People has right to criticize government, says Chinese Premier Wen

BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- People has the right to criticize government policy and government also needs to be open and democratic in its policy-making, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said here Saturday in an online chat with netizens.

Chinese Premier agrees "good system matters more than a good premier"

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao holds an online chat with netizens jointly hosted by the central government website and Xinhua website in Beijing, China, Feb. 28, 2009. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
Photo Gallery>>>

BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao responded to the criticism from Chinese netizens on Saturday, admitting that to have seriously ill children rescued, a good medical system would matter more than a good premier.

He made this remark in a joint interview by the central government website (http://english.gov.cn) and the Xinhua News Agency website (http://www.chinaview.cn ).