WTO's Transparency Principle and China's Value Orientation of E-Government

Abstract

E-Government has great advantages compared with the practice of traditional government. These included improving administrative efficiency, transforming government functions, reinforcing openness and transparency of governmental behaviour. The advantages also relate to increasing the citizens' trust and satisfaction with government, cracking down corruption and promoting rule of law. This research argues that e-Government of China is lagged behind that of many other countries. The fundamental reason for this lag is that it is held up by inflexible government systems instead of shortage of capital, technologies and talents. The article points out that China should start by performing the WTO's transparency principle to fully implement disclosure of the government information. It is supposed to take friendliness, convenience, transparency and inexpensiveness as the value orientation of e-Government. The article also addresses the importance of promoting the development of e-Government.

Keywords:

• E-Government
• value orientation
• openness
• transparency

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yuxiang Chen

Yuxiang Chen is an Associate Professor of Business School at Hubei University in China. He received his Bachelor of political economy at Hubei University, and obtained his Master and Doctorate in International Economic Law at Wuhan University in China. He is a Visiting Scholar at New York State University at Buffalo. His areas of interest focus on international trade policies and international investment rules. Over the past few years, he has carried out researches related to a variety of subjects such as WTO rules, international trade remedies, political risks of overseas investment and China's reforms of government management system. His research has been published in journals and books in China. Dr. Chen is also a part-time lawyer, international commercial arbitrator and senior legal adviser of government and businesses.