Beijing's official website opens microblog, Wechat accounts

Want China Times, Xinhua 2013-10-12

The official government website, www.gov.cn. (Internet Photo)

The official website of the Chinese government, www.gov.cn, opened accounts on two leading microblog websites and a Wechat account on Friday.

The website, run by the General Office of the State Council, or China's cabinet, will publish important government information through the three online platforms.

The two microblog accounts are at xinhuanet.com and qq.com. Wechat, meanwhile, is a hugely popular Chinese messaging app with over 400 million users.

The official government website, in operation since January 2006, publishes information about activities of senior officials of the State Council, import cabinet meetings as well as policies and regulations.

The move followed a Wechat account opened last month by the Gazette Office of the State Council. The Gazette account publicizes administrative laws and orders of the State Council, personnel appointments and removals, and important government rules and documents.

These attempts are a display of the central government's aim to approach the public and improve transparency in the age of internet.