The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Central Government have emphasized social credit system construction since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012.

Its top level design has basically been completed with the publication of several documents in this area.

Relevant legislation has been listed in the legislative plan of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and national credit information sharing has been realized through platforms such as the national credit information sharing platform which is connected to 44 departments, all provinces, municipalities and cities and over 70 market institutions.

Many cities have published personal credit scores and implemented incentive measures such as easy access to loans for those with high credit scores.

Different government departments have worked together to punish those who default on their loans, taxes or other payments. For instance, the public security bureau in Lishui District of Nanjing City in east China's Jiangsu Province has helped the local people's court to find those who have lost their credit and are subject to penalties.

To further social credit system construction, a legal system should be established; the application of social credit records should be expanded to areas such as the issuance of loans, rental agreements, tourism, insurance, and medical care to accelerate the construction of the social credit system.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article originally published in Outlook Weekly on June 17)