Xu Ning, the first spokesperson of Nanjing municipal government met local media on October 13. At the news conference, she explained frankly about the new policies and measures of the construction of a service government. Her debut won wide acclaim.
Wearing a black suit, with short hair, the government spokesperson is surrounded by reporters asking questions. Xu Ning smiles and talks in a friendly manner speaking clearly from start to finish.
Reporter: Can you tell us something about the development of resettlement regulations in Nanjing that are currently being revised?
Xu Ning: Resettlement is of immediate concern to the people. Therefore, the government gives top priority to carry out the work in a humane and reasonable way. The newly issued resettlement regulation draft has been submitted to relevant experts and institutions for comment eight times and has solicited suggestions from the municipal people's congress as well as the political consultative conference. Next, it will be handed over to the mayor's general office and other higher institutions to solicit comments fully from various forums and discussions participated by people from all walks of life. Closely following national and provincial relevant regulations, the new law will firmly protect the rights of resettled residents.
Reporter: Recently, Nanjing issued a document in which it stipulated that employees have the right to invest in and buy shares of various enterprises except for foreign companies. What kind of people enjoy this right?
Xu Ning: In the past, only three kinds of people were allowed to invest and buy shares in Nanjing. They were the unemployed, such as farmers; urban laid-off and retired people; employees without any administrative institutions. While the new policies provided several suggestions on further improving an investment environment, Nanjing has loosened its investment restrictions and expanded their scope. It stipulates that despite those who are forbidden to engage in business management, employees may invest and become shareholders in varied enterprises except for foreign-funded ones. Civil servants are the exception.
Reporter: The provisional rule on ascertaining responsibility of administration faults has been implemented for one year. What's the difference between it and similar regulations in other countries?
Xu Ning: When working out the rule, the government drew on experiences from other countries in this regard. Generally, we made it in light of the reality in China as well as in Nanjing. The focus here is on disposing of problems of negligence of duty and the overstepping the authority of officials.
Reporter: When confronting unexpected incidents and sensitive questions, can you release news speedily and objectively instead of stalling reporters?
Xu Ning: My work is establishing a fast, efficient and accurate information channel between the government and the people and letting ordinary people enjoy their right to know the truth. I will first publish the government attitude and disperse comment to the public and update news on the government website as well.
Shen Jian, secretary general of Nanjing municipal government briefed the background and responsibility of the first spokesperson at the news conference. He noted that improving the spokesperson system was to enable better communication with the media and the public as well as further opening government affairs.
Nanjing municipal government stipulated in its working regulations issued April 25 last year that the government had set up a spokesperson system and invited news reporters to attend regular government meetings. After Jiang Hongkun was appointed acting mayor of Nanjing, many times he urged further improving the government spokesperson system and enhancing the frequency and efficiency of news releasing systems. During the past one and a half years, the government has maintained fine communication with the press and public by releasing important government information via the news media.
Shen Jian said that Nanjing, a well-known city in China and the world, is a place with many developed media institutions. In order to build a more open and transparent information environment and publicize more government working affairs in time, Nanjing has set up a spokesperson system and selected Xu Ning, vice director of the government general office to be its first spokesperson.
Apart from regular news conferences, the spokesperson will express government opinion and responses to unexpected incidents, matters of consequence, centers of public attention and relevant news by holding immediate press conferences. In addition, the government will invite the media to occasional news meetings and press conferences and receive interviews. The government will also offer regular and well-timed news services by updating news on its website.
Xu Ning's profile
Xu Ning, born in 1966, is a graduate of Nanjing Normal University, with a BA in Chinese. After graduation, Xu taught in Nanjing school for teachers of preschool children. Afterwards, she transferred to the municipal committee. In 2001, she served as vice secretary and spokesperson of the Nanjing Medicine Inspection and Administration Bureau. Now, she is vice director of the government general office.
As for her debut at the news conference, Xu only gives herself a pass grade. On talking of her feeling about being a spokesperson, she said that it was a colossal responsibility. On the one hand, the people and the media hold high expectations for the transparency of government information and have urgent requirements for its services. On the other hand, the media plays a very important role in the reform, development and stability of Nanjing city. Therefore, there is much government work and information needed in the public arena. People have the right to know the truth and it's conducive for them to supervise government work in this way. "I will try my best to fulfill my responsibility and release government information accurately, timely and objectively," she said.
(China.org.cn by Lixiao October 29, 2003)
