Li Keqiang encourages government consultants' role in policymaking

Premier Li Keqiang on Friday asked government consultants to pool their wisdom to better contribute to the country's policymaking. Li made the remarks after presenting letters of appointment to new members of the Counsellors' Office of the State Council and the Central Research Institute of Culture and History, two think tanks under China's cabinet. "The appointment letters are small, but the responsibilities and expectations included in them are great," the premier told the newly employed government consultants. Li encouraged them to deliver suggestions to the State Council via various channels. He urged them to do more field research in grassroots communities and collect the true voices of the people in order to make government decisions a reflection of the people's will. Li also asked them to actively promote the spread and inheritance of Chinese traditional culture and make efforts to enhance the nation's soft power.