When Railways Minister Liu Zhijun joined a panel discussion with lawmakers, he found he faced a greater challenge than even the snowstorms had posed for him earlier this year.

Amid lawmakers' criticism on the incapability of relief work that left millions of train passengers trapped along China's artery railway, Liu gave his answer.

"The snow disaster exposed a laggard railway situation far behind the country's economic and social development. The criticism will help us keep alert and motivate us to improve the current situation," said Liu Zhijun while joining a group discussion with legislators from Jiangxi Province.

His scenario was recast by Health Minister Chen Zhu who replied sincerely to criticism among political advisors on the government's low health care budget.

"There is still a long way to go for China's medical reform, but we will try our best. We are ready to face the criticism for 10 to 20 years at least," said Chen.

During the annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), it has been a normal practice for these ministers to face the annual inspections from lawmakers and political advisors and provide answers for better decision-making and improving people's livelihood.

"It is very effective for government officials to have panel discussions with us. We can express freely and directly our concerns and dissatisfaction with the government's work," said Wang Mengshu, an NPC deputy from Henan Province.

This is also a good opportunity for government officials to explain policies based on free and democratic communication.

Instead of blindly accepting the suggestion to ensure a free compulsory education in high school and pre-school stages, Education Minister Zhou Ji clarified that the time had not been ripe for China to do so.

"The suggestion is beyond China's current situation and overestimates its latest development," he said.

Indeed, a down-to-earth manner was what impressed her most about ministers, said Du Min, a lawmaker from Fujian Province.

"I appreciate their frankness in the face of criticism and I believe they will not be troubled by it, since they are experts in their fields. They will remain confident and clear-minded toward their future work," she said.

Her view was shared by netizens. "The sincere reply from the railways minister showed that the government was keen to seek public opinions and determined to make things better. That's what we expect," wrote a netizen with the name Lu Zhijian.

Aside from accepting criticism, it is more important for these ministers to make specific plans for future work, said NPC deputy Shi Zuolin from Fujian.

Vice Health Minister Gao Qiang echoed the public call. During the panel discussion with lawmakers, he said more than 20 billion yuan (2.8 billion U.S.dollars) would be allocated this year from the central budget and governments of central and western regions to upgrade the township health institutions.

"The primary task is to work for grassroots medical institutions rather than for large hospitals to narrow the yawning gap of medicare between rural and urban areas," said Gao.

Railways Minister Liu Zhijun also promised a total of 300 billion yuan (about 42 billion U.S. dollars) would be invested in China's railway construction this year.

This smooth communication channel should not only appear during the "two sessions", but also be continued in daily life, said Wang Rusong,a lawmaker from Guangdong Province.

"It will not only benefit officials for better governing, but also lawmakers and political advisors for better supervising," said Wang Rusong.

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2008)