Micro blogs promote good governance

China has about 250 million micro blog users, the highest number of users in the world, and that number is continuing to grow at a rapid pace, says an article in Beijing Youth Daily. Excerpts:

As one of the worlds most networked countries, China's model of governance is also rapidly changing to adapt to the new national conditions. More government departments rely on micro blogs, the Internet and mobile phones to spread information and receive public feedback. Some government departments even interact with the public around the clock.

Over the recent Golden Week National Day holiday, many government departments, such traffic and public security, maintained their microblogs throughout the eight days of the holiday and updated the public with the latest travel information.

Thanks to the development of information technology, both the government and public enjoy easier to access each other.

More importantly, micro blogs provide an equal and transparent landscape for both participation and supervision. Common network users find it easier to communicate with the government.

Although the people operating government micro blogs are not necessarily officials, micro blogs represent the government and all interactions between network users and the government are under public scrutiny.

Thus, the government is usually more responsive and efficient in dealing with the problems proposed by netizens. To some extent, the network has already become an indispensable factor promoting good governance and social stability in China. It is not only used to address the public's concerns, but it is also regarded as an effective tool to fight against corruption and under performing officials.

The reason micro blogs are so popular in China is fundamentally political and social, micro blogs will bring positive changes to Chinese society and government.