A senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Friday called on relevant departments to improve the handling of petitions in an effort to maintain social harmony and stability.

 

"Properly handling petitions is an indispensable and irreplaceable job that should not be neglected in building a socialist harmonious society," said Wang Gang, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee.

 

Addressing a national meeting of regional heads of petition handling departments in Beijing, Wang, who is also an alternate member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, spurred these departments to protect the people's rights to make petitions in line with law.

 

In the meantime, Wang added, they should guide the petition-making people to abide by laws and regulations.

 

State Councilor and Secretary General of the State Council Hua Jianmin also attended the meeting.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 19, 2006)