Along with its WTO membership, China is in urgent need of senior personnel who are familiar with international economic and technical rules, said Professor Song Shiming with National School of Administration. This need can be addressed by establishing technical posts in the civil service system, as proposed in the draft of Civil Servant Law, of which Song is one of the authors.

Upon the country's WTO accession, technical barrier has gradually replaced tariff barrier to become a major tool in protecting national economic interests, experts pointed out. Whether administrative authorities are able to provide prompt and effective technical appraisal in international trade frictions, studies showed, has a direct impact on government's capability to protect national economic interests under the new situation.

Establishment of technical posts, that is, those providing technical support and guarantees for administrative departments, will help to optimize the current post structure, build a more professional government and raise administrative efficiency, Song said.

Technical posts should firstly go to experts in a specific field, such as in commodity classification and management of original production area; and secondly belong to general technical staff as on engineering and chemical examination. People from government advisory and research institutions should also be included.

By People's Daily Online