The commission has laid down strict regulations that set this requirement in stone, making it the first such action in China, said Wang Yang, SDPC's vice-minister.

The action is aimed at scrutinizing government administration and attracting more members of the public to become involved in the pricing process, according to today's China Daily.

The hearings will act as a stage for government, consumers and producers to exchange ideas about pricing, said Wang.

``The public and media will be granted free access to the price decision process. The aim is to protect the rights of consumers who will buy critical products or service such as water, mail and telecommunications,'' Wang added.

During the hearing process, applicants must present pricing plans and their reasoning to consumer representatives, pricing authorities and experts. And the representatives are granted the right to view the final records of the hearings, Wang said.

The step is another one adopted by the commission to carry out the state's long-lasting reform to decentralize pricing when establishing the market-oriented system.

This month, the commission authorized the supervision of the pricing of goods and services of special importance to people's lives and national security.

It also announced that only 13 commodities and services are still under the control of the State's Council's pricing authorities and related departments.

Products makers are free to set the prices of other commodities and services.

Wang said his commission's pricing hearing regulation was based on several years' of research and experience gathered by developed countries and China's Pricing Law, which was approved by National People's Congress.

The state will accelerate the establishment of the law and regulations to scrutinize the government's pricing decisions and market order, Wang said.

``All in all, the government will focus on decentralizing any product prices that can set by market forces,'' Wang said.

(Xinhua News Agency 07/27/2001)