Beijing is taking real steps to push for a more transparent and "cleaner" government.

The capital city is starting to implement its government reshuffle and fine-tune its departmental structure in line with the newly concluded round of central government structural reforms.

The role of managing State assets, formerly scattered throughout various departments, will be centralized under the city's new State Asset Management Commission.

The concentration will improve management efficiency. Formerly, more people would do less as responsibility was not clearly defined.

Within the package of changes, Beijing will set up a development and reform commission.

Food safety and public health are also stressed in the reform.

The philosophy of Beijing's structural progress is to achieve an efficient government by further clarifying its functions.

The move answers the call from the new central government, formed this spring, to improve government for the people.

Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday once again urged governments at all levels to better fulfil their obligations. He also called for strengthened supervision of government activities from both within and outside of the bureaucracy.

The Beijing discipline and supervision authorities know how necessary it is to have a more transparent and efficient government, especially as the Olympic Games and the world's full attention is only five years away.

They recently demanded that all construction projects within the public's interest, including the construction of facilities for the Games, should be subject to transparent procedures.

That means all the links of construction, such as government approval, planning, the sale of land, bidding and procurement, and government examinations, must be done openly.

The role of the government is indispensable in the field of urban construction, where many high-ranking officials have fallen due to corruption.

The move shows Beijing not only has the resolve, but is willing to take measures to fight corruption and improve its image.

The next step the city's government must take is to fully implement the transparent mechanism as it builds a "cleaner" government.

Beijing has come out strongly, setting a good example for counterparts in other areas and at lower levels.

(China Daily September 17, 2003)