China to increase government transparency

Chinese governments and departments are not meeting standards when it comes to transparency and publicizing information, said a report by a government think tank on Monday. The report, by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), was carried out in 2013 covering 55 departments of the State Council, 31 provincial-level governments and 49 big city authorities. According to the report, government departments have made progress in publicizing information and improved the access to information. The report said the regulation on government information publicity as well as relevant laws clearly defined information that should be publicized. However, many governments failed to meet standards, with information not being published, and not in a timely manner, the report said. The CASS also said in a blue paper that China will step up reform of the administrative examination and approval system, to streamline administration and delegate power to lower levels.