The Chinese public will be able to check at archives official documents once reserved for decades when a new regulation comes into effect next year, according to the head of the State Archives Administration (SAA).

The regulation on the release of government information, being drafted by the State Council, will define archives as places offering public consultation to government information, said Yang Dongquan, who is also head of the Central Archives.

"Official information release will make life more convenient for the public and facilitate public participation in economic and social activities, he said at a national archives meeting held Thursday.

SAA statistics show that nearly 2,500 state archives at or above the county level has opened official documents for public reference, accounting for more than 80 percent of the nation's total.

China has begun to open official documents at archives since 2000 on a trial basis. Official governments used to be kept in archives for 30 years before opening to the public.

Source: Xinhua