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October 16, 2011

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Officials get into microblog habit

AS China's booming microblog services have become a popular way for people to voice their opinions, government departments and officials are being encouraged to use the tool to better communicate with the public.

China owns the world's largest online population at 500 million and the country's most popular microblog service, Sina Weibo, now has more than 200 million registered users.

Government departments and officials nationwide have opened more than 40,000 microblog accounts in a bid to release authorized information and receive feedback from the people.

Among them is the microblog of the Beijing Emergency Medical Center, which opened in February and gained fame for its quick response to public concern over nuclear radiation following the earthquake in Japan in March.

After the devastating earthquake, which triggered a powerful tsunami that damaged a nuclear power plant and caused a radiation leak, the center's microblog promptly released information about protection measures for nuclear radiation.

As a result, the number of its microblog followers soared to 60,000 within days.

"Besides serving as a window for people to be updated about the center's latest services, the microblog also fosters direct online communication between medical professionals and patients," said Zhang Guixia, a staff member with the center.

To many Internet users, such microblogs bring "relaxed" communication between officials and the public.

Two years ago, a government microblog would likely have an "official" tone: "If you have any comment, please submit it through the platform. We welcome your opinions, which will help us improve services."

Nowadays, government microblogs are becoming service-oriented, innovative and easygoing.

This includes the Chengdu government's publicity department, which has more than 1.5 million followers, ranking first among "government microblogs" on Sina Weibo.





 

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