The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) launched a website yesterday to help people get a better grasp of the policies that affect their daily lives.

The economic regulator's drive is in line with a new decree that took effect yesterday, requiring government departments to ease access to policy information and other matters of public concern.

The NDRC said on the website that the information would be open to the public either on its main portal, www.ndrc.gov.cn, or upon request from any individual or legal entity.

Any request should be filed in written form to the NDRC, the website said. The commission promised to respond to written requests within 15 working days.

According to the rule on government information transparency, governments at all levels are to make available information involving matters of public interest, bureaucratic structures and other information legally defined as something the public should know.

An official with the NDRC said the new rule would improve the transparency of the government and ensure people's right to know.

The information on the NDRC website includes administrative regulations, rules and other official documents, economic and social development plans, economic and social statistics, the fiscal budget and expenditure reports and government procurement lists.

(Xinhua News Agency May 2, 2008)