Chinese Internet users have swarmed to a message board on people.com.cn, in the past week after the website promised to pass their messages to the country's top leadership. Launched by People's Daily, the move is a new step by a Chinese media outlet, to bring the government and Party closer to the public.

The online message board opened last Wednesday, titled "Your Direct Connection to Zhongnanhai", the headquarters of the CPC and the central government.

The message board provides an opportunity for Internet users to offer suggestions to departments under the CPC Central Committee as well as its senior officials.

Over the past week, tens of thousands of messages were left for President Hu Jintao, who is also the general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, and Premier Wen Jiabao.

A large portion of the messages concerned key social topics, including sky-rocketing housing prices, the anti-corruption campaign and education reform.

One comment says:" The central government has been trying to control housing prices, but the achievement has only been seen in China's largest cities, while prices in less developed cities keep rising. I hope the government will strengthen more efforts."

Another netizen says he hopes authorities will strictly punish companies who abuse the money set for construction, for their own personal use.

For parents, education reform was their biggest concern. One suggested reforms should start with a change in school times. He said primary and middle schools should start class at nine in the morning, which would give students more sleep.

Others worried about the traffic situation. One commentor strongly suggested that the government restrict the purchase of private cars. He says that every city in China has traffic jams, with drivers who displayed poor driving skills, leading to numerous traffic accidents.

All the messages on the board are open to the public, and commenting is free.

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