Smoke-free, waste-free provincial 'two sessions'

Beijing political advisors are limited to seven minute speeches, cutting out all the meaningless, fawning greetings and empty words. The Beijing government organized group interactions on Wednesday, with face-to-face meetings between officials, deputies and advisors. A live Internet broadcast was arranged of the plenary meeting of the second session of the Beijing municipal committee of the CPPCC.

Xu Yaotong of the Chinese Academy of Governance believes the simple style combined with transparent, public sessions will help plug the gap between politicos and ordinary people. He expects the style to be widely imitated in other provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions.

Late in 2012, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China offered explicit guidance on eight aspects of official work style, including reducing the number and length of meetings, condensing papers, less interruption to traffic by motorcades and thrift.

Xu said the requirements, after more than a year in practice, had been supplemented by detailed rules and regulations, stipulating conditions for receptions, spending and car use, revealing the resolution of the top leadership to promote frugality and curb corruption.

"The rules and regulations governing the ordinary conduct of officials, should be enforced in the long term to prevent officials from returning to their old habits," he said.