China’s Local Governments Should Listen More to the Public in Decision Making, Survey Shows

The majority of local governments surveyed by Chinese researchers lack sufficient transparency in collecting and responding to public opinion during the policymaking process, according to a digital governance research project.

The report evaluated 337 local governments’ performance in soliciting public opinion when drafting regional development plans, and found that only 17% publicized feedback received online and only 23% of them made public their responses to residents’ suggestions.