Premier Wen Jiabao has called on the government to build an innovative administration, saying it is the major task for restructuring administrative management and a major part of the country's economic and political restructuring.

Wen, who is also member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, made the remarks in his key-note speech delivered at a national teleconference on accelerating government reform on September 4.

According to the premier, since the convening in 2002 of the 16th Party Congress, the government has adopted a series of measures to boost the government's own reform.

This included amending the Rules for the Work of the State Council, which feature the three fundamental principles of scientific and democratic decision-making, administration by law, and administrative supervision.

The government has focused on strengthening its ability to handle societal issues, provide better public service and establishing a mechanism for handling emergencies.

The government has pushed forward the reform of administrative approvals; set the goal and requirements for building a government ruled by law; implemented the Law on Public Servants, and increased efforts to fight corruption.

In his speech, the premier stressed the importance of changing how the government functions in a substantive way, saying it is key for deepening the restructuring and strengthening of administrative management.

He admitted, however, that many problems still exist even though "we have done a lot of work to change in the aspect of changing government function over the past years," he said.

The premier said that the government has been involved in many things that are not related to the function of government or are out of the scope of government. He pledged to continue pushing forward the separation of government and business.

While practicing its functions of economic readjustment and market supervision, the government should strengthen its public service, he said.

He called for deepening the fight against corruption and building a clean government, to ensure that government powers will not be misused. "The nature of corruption is misuse of public powers," he emphasized.

"Government workers must work for the interests of the people with the powers granted by the people," he said, "Using power for self interests is absolutely prohibited."

As of the end of June, the authorities had handled a total of 6,972 cases involving business-related bribes, worth 1.96 billion yuan (US$245 million). A number of offenders involved in these cases have been punished.

He asked for more breakthroughs in uncovering bribes in the fields of infrastructure projects, transfer of land, trade in property, medical purchase and sale, government procurement, and exploration and trade of resources, as well as monopolized industries.

"Fundamentally, the prevention of misuse of powers depends on the reform and the system," he stressed, highlighting the importance of perfecting the system to prevent corruption.

He called for displaying democracy and stepping up supervision. "Lack of efficient supervision and control certainly leads to corruption," he concluded.

He also advocated the transparency of government work, making it convenient for the people to handle affairs and supervise the government. "Transparency of government work will improve the efficiency of the government and prevent corruption," he said.

Increasing administrative efficiency helps increasing the government's capabilities and credibility, Wen said. He criticized some local governments for failing to implement orders from higher authorities and for losing credibility when they violate laws and regulations.

He pledged to adhere to the principles of scientific and democratic decision-making, in order to enhance the level of decision-making and safeguard social justice.

The government will set up an appraisal system for government officials, under which leading government officials of different levels will be examined on the results of their work, in accordance with criteria that have been scientifically developed.

To build a responsible government means that leading officials must be investigated when they are accused of wrong doings and wrong doings of government must be corrected, said the premier.

(Xinhua News Agency September 8, 2006)