- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Friday that some officials are "divorced from reality and the masses," and are "excessively formalistic and bureaucratic."
In his work report to the National People's Congress (NPC), Wen said some areas are prone to corruption and some officials give too little consideration to carrying out official duties in line with the law.
He said the government's work still "fell considerably short of public expectations."
"The transformation of government functions is incomplete; there is too much government interference in the micro-economy, and public administration and services are relatively weak," Wen said.
He said efforts should be made to create conditions for the people to criticize and oversee the government.
"Let the news media fully play their oversight role," Wen said.
He said the government is to ensure the people live a happier life "with more dignity" and to make our society fairer and more harmonious.
He said efforts should be made to focus on transforming government functions, deepening reform of the administrative system and working hard to make the government devoted to service.