Guangdong party secretary Wang Yang said yesterday that Apple's iPad was helping him make better use of his time, and by using the tablet he could more easily access criticism from internet users.
During an online chat with Net users organised by people.com.cn, the website of Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily, Wang admitted he liked using his iPad, such as during a trip to Germany last month. But he denied that he was simply 'following fashion'.
'My work schedule is very tight ... so by using the iPad, I can efficiently organise my fragmented time, just like all iPad users do,' Wang said.
Wang has repeatedly expressed his passion for online interaction with people about his policies and administration since becoming provincial party boss in late 2007. Many of his answers yesterday were also cyber-related.
He said that by using his iPad, he could find comments and posts about himself on microblogging platforms. 'Last night I was reading them,' he said.
Wang also urged officials with low-level party committees and governments to learn more about cyberspace and to be more open-minded about online criticism.